steady

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English stedy, studi, stidiȝ, perhaps continuing Old English stæþþiġ, ġestæþþiġ (“steadfast, stable, firm, staid”), equivalent to stead +‎ -y; or calquing Middle Low German or Middle Dutch stēdig. Cognate with Saterland Frisian stoadig (“constant, continual”), West Frisian stadich (“slow”), Danish stedig, stadig, steeg, Swedish stadig, Icelandic stöðugur, German stätig, stetig.

Pronunciation

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  • enPR: stĕdʹi, IPA(key): /ˈstɛdi/
  • (dialectal) enPR: stĭdʹi, stŭdʹi, IPA(key): /ˈstɪdi/, /ˈstʌdi/[1]
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛdi

Adjective

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steady (comparative steadier, superlative steadiest)

  1. Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.
    Hold the ladder steady while I go up.
    • a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:
      Their feet steady, their hands diligent, their eyes watchful, and their hearts resolute.
    • 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
      But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ¶ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder. The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window, […].
    • 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
      Captain Edward Carlisle, soldier as he was, martinet as he was, felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, her alluring smile ; he could not tell what this prisoner might do.
  2. Constant in feeling, purpose, or pursuit; not fickle, changeable, or wavering; not easily moved or persuaded to alter a purpose; resolute.
    a man steady in his principles, in his purpose, or in the pursuit of an object
  3. Smooth and not bumpy or with obstructions.
    a steady ride
  4. Phlegmatic, calm; not easily upset, excited, or disturbed.
    • 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 1:
      Thy ſteddy Temper, Portius,
      Can look on Guilt, Rebellion, Fraud, and Cæſar,
      In the calm Lights of mild Philoſophy;
      I’m tortured, ev’n to Madneſs, when I think
      On the proud Victor: […]
  5. Regular and even.
    the steady course of the Sun;  a steady breeze of wind
    • 1951 March, E. J. Tyler, “Post-War Recovery on the Netherlands Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 157:
      The rebuilding of damaged stations is proceeding slowly, on account of the shortage of building materials and the pressing needs of housing, but steady progress is being made.
    • 2003, Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices: Inserts Only, page 10:
      During programmed changes, no steady green signal indication or flashing yellow signal indication shall be terminated and immediately followed by a steady red or flashing red signal indication without first displaying the steady yellow signal […]
  6. Slow.
  7. (informal, dated) With whom one is going steady.
    • 1979 August 25, Pat M. Kuras, “Post Card Sex”, in Gay Community News, volume 7, number 6, page 12:
      I have been trying to remember what other porn movies I've seen. I know that I should be able to recall many a title as, When I was eighteen, my steady girlfriend and I would go to drive-in theatres and half-watch them all the time.

Synonyms

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Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Verb

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steady (third-person singular simple present steadies, present participle steadying, simple past and past participle steadied)

  1. (transitive, sometimes figurative) To stabilize; to prevent from shaking.
    I took a drink to steady my nerves.
  2. (intransitive) To become stable.
    • 2010, Scott Westerfeld, Leviathan:
      The ship steadied in the air. Another spray of ballast came, heavier than the last.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Particle

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steady

  1. (African-American Vernacular) Aspect marker indicating consistency or intensity.
    (The addition of quotations indicative of this usage is being sought:)

Noun

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steady (plural steadies)

  1. A rest or support, as for the hand, a tool, or a piece of work.
  2. (informal) A regular boyfriend or girlfriend.
    • 2002, Frederick E. Von Burg, Keep My White Sneakers, Kit Carson, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 13:
      “Dalton is my steady, now. If I break up with him, you're the first on the list.” “Thanks,” said Ted. “What a privilege to be second choice.”
  3. (informal) A prostitute's regular customer.
    • 2013, Sheila Foster, Soho Whore:
      Some of my steadies wanted me to go out with them on a date. Occasionally I let one of them take me to a film or out for a meal.

Adverb

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steady (not comparable)

  1. (rowing, informal) To row with pressure at a low stroke-rating, often 18 strokes per minute.
    After the sprint pieces, we rowed steady for the rest of practice.

References

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  1. ^ Stanley, Oma (1937) “I. Vowel Sounds in Stressed Syllables”, in The Speech of East Texas (American Speech: Reprints and Monographs; 2), New York: Columbia University Press, →DOI, →ISBN, § 4, page 13.

Further reading

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Anagrams

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