vastgedraaid

Vastgedraaid is a Dutch adjective formed as the past participle of the verb vastdraaien. It describes something that has been turned tightly into place or fixed in a specific position. In mechanical contexts, it is used to indicate that a fastener, component, or joint has been tightened to secure it, often according to a required torque or specification.

Figuratively, vastgedraaid can describe a person or plan that is firmly fixed or intractable, akin to being stubborn or unwavering. This figurative use is less common in formal writing and more likely to appear in colloquial speech or descriptive narratives.

Etymology and usage notes: The term combines vast (fixed, secure) with draaien (to turn). The literal sense relates to tightening; the figurative sense relies on the idea of being immovable. In practice, it appears as a past participle used attributively or predicatively, as in “de bout is vastgedraaid” or “het mechanisme is vastgedraaid.” In many contexts, writers may prefer the verb phrase vastdraaien to describe the action, while vastgedraaid describes the resulting state.

Examples:

- De bout is vastgedraaid tot het vereiste koppel.

- De monteur controleerde of de schroef vastgedraaid was.

- Het plan leek vastgedraaid, ondanks de nieuwe informatie.