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OP I was mulling this entry over again, and was struck by stead (which is cognate with German Stadt and Yiddish shtetl < PIE *st@-ti-). For folks who worry about such locutions as very unique and emptier, there's steadfast for standing still. How can fast mean both 'quick (in motion)' and 'fixed'? (Easy answer, cuz it's language.) It seems that fast is related to Vulgar Latin *passo 'to step' < Latin passus 'step' (< pando, pandi) 'to spread out, extend, throw open', and whence pas 'not' in French, can you fathom it? [also related]). The later meaning of fast qua quick is from the verb to fasten 'to fix in place'. All this moving and standing still. And, yes, German statt 'in stead of, in place of' is related also. Do not pass go, go past, or stand fast.
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