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by JadeNB 751 days ago
Something can be held fast, but I don't think it is usual English to say that something fixed is fast.

Garnishment of wages is garnisheeing, though here I'll agree "garnishing" seems to be acceptable too.

3 comments

Something "made fast" is perfectly reasonable usage for tying it in place.
Yep. And something "made fast" is also perfectly reasonable usage for vastly upgrading its speed. "Fast" can absolutely be a contronym.
I think two-word contranyms are more concrete, like "fight together".

Oversight is a less ambiguous example of a single-word contranym.

I've heard "fast" as a contranym to "moving quickly," referenced as "to fast" or "fasting." ie: not eating at all.

Edited to add: Sticking with the context of food, "fasting from food" contradicts someone being a "fast eater."

"Fasten your seatbelt" doesn't usually mean "twirl it wildly above your head".