steven
Contents
English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- steaven, stevven, stevvon
- steavyn, stevin (15th-16th centuries)
- stewyn, stewyne, stewin, stevyne (Scotland)
Pronunciation[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
From Middle English steven (“voice, command, constitution”), from Old English stefn, stemn (“voice”), from Proto-Germanic *stebnō, *stamnijō (“voice”), from Proto-Indo-European *stomen- (“mouth, muzzle”). Cognate with Old Frisian stifne, stemme (“voice”), Old Saxon stemna (“voice”) (Dutch stem), Old High German stimma, stimna (“voice”) (German Stimme), Gothic 𐍃𐍄𐌹𐌱𐌽𐌰 (stibna, “voice”), Ancient Greek στόμα (stóma, “mouth”). See also stevvon.
Noun[edit]
steven (plural stevens)
- (Britain dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) The voice, now especially when loud or strong.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter xij, in Le Morte Darthur, book XXI:
- Soo wythin syx wekye after syr Launcelot fyl seek and laye in his bedde & thenne he sente for the bysshop that there was heremyte and al his trewe felowes / Than Syr Launcelot sayd wyth drery steuen / syr bysshop I praye you gyue to me al my ryghtes that longeth to a chrysten man
- a1801, Richard Gall, Poems & Songs (1819) 93:
- Then could her Sangsters loud their steven raise.
- 1865, William Stott Banks, List Provinc. Words Wakefield:
- Thah's a rare stevven, lad.
- a1886, Eric Mackay, Love Lett. Violinist (1895) 197:
- He […] lifted up his steven To keep the bulwarks of his faith secure.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter xij, in Le Morte Darthur, book XXI:
- (obsolete) Speech, language.
- (obsolete) Voice; cry; that which is uttered; petition; prayer.
- a1500 (1460), Towneley Plays (1994) I.ii.17:
- God that shope both erth and heuen, I pray to the thou here my steven.
- 1589, Thomas Lodge, Scillaes Metamorphosis E 2:
- Father of light […] Bring to effect this my desired steauen.
- a1500 (1460), Towneley Plays (1994) I.ii.17:
- (obsolete) A word, command, bidding or direction given.
- 1597, Thomas Middleton, Wisdome of Solomon Paraphr. xviii. xiv–xvi. sig. Y3v:
- And brought thy precept? as a burning steauen, Reaching from heauen to earth, from earth to heauen.
- 1597, Thomas Middleton, Wisdome of Solomon Paraphr. xviii. xiv–xvi. sig. Y3v:
- (archaic) A promise, one's word.
- (obsolete) An outcry, shout, or loud call; a clamour/clamor, noise; din.
- 1826, James Hogg, Queen Hynde vi, in Poems (1865) 262:
- All nature roar'd in one dire steven; Heaven cried to earth, and earth to heaven.
- 1826, James Hogg, Queen Hynde vi, in Poems (1865) 262:
- (obsolete) A sound, the sound of a horn; melody, tune; song; sound made by an animal or a bird.
- 1566, William Addlington, translator, The Golden Asse, Apuleius
- […] whereby the little birds weening that the spring time had bin come, did chirp and sing in their steven melodiously
- 1566, William Addlington, translator, The Golden Asse, Apuleius
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
Verb[edit]
steven (third-person singular simple present stevens, present participle stevening, simple past and past participle stevened)
- (transitive, obsolete) To speak; utter; describe; tell of; name.
- (transitive, obsolete) To voice an opinion; vote.
- (transitive, archaic) To vouch; speak up (for).
- (transitive, dialectal) To bespeak.
- (intransitive, dialectal) To talk; call out; shout; make a noise.
Translations[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Etymology 2[edit]
From Middle English steven (“appointment”), from Old English stefn (“a time, turn, tour of duty”), from Proto-Germanic *stabnijaz, *stabnijô (“fixed time”), from Proto-Indo-European *stebh- (“a stake, post; to support, stamp, insist, become angry”). Cognate with Middle Low German stevene (“a court appointment”), Old Norse stefna (“appointment, meeting”). More at staff.
Noun[edit]
steven (plural stevens)
- (obsolete) A time, occasion.
- 1788, Samuel Johnson, George Steevens, The dramatick writings of Will. Shakspere, with the Notes of all the various Commentators:
- I should choose to read "at this dull season," rather than this dull steven, [...]— John Monck Mason.
- 1788, Samuel Johnson, George Steevens, The dramatick writings of Will. Shakspere, with the Notes of all the various Commentators:
- (obsolete) A set time; a date or appointment.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VIII:
- And that same nyght that the steavyn was sette betwyxte Segwarydes wyff and Sir Trystrames, so Kynge Marke armed and made hym redy [...].
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VIII:
Verb[edit]
steven (third-person singular simple present stevens, present participle stevening, simple past and past participle stevened)
- (transitive, obsolete) To call; summon; command; appoint.
- (intransitive, obsolete) To alternate; take turns.
Derived terms[edit]
Further reading[edit]
- steven at OneLook Dictionary Search
- steven in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- steven in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
Anagrams[edit]
Dutch[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle Dutch stēvene.
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
steven m (plural stevens)
- the part of a ship's deck that stretches along the entire length of the keel including the bow and the stern
Derived terms[edit]
Anagrams[edit]
Middle English[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
From Old English stefn, stemn (“voice, sound”). More at steven.
Alternative forms[edit]
Noun[edit]
steven (plural stevens)
Etymology 2[edit]
From Old English stefn (“appointed time”).
Alternative forms[edit]
Noun[edit]
steven
- time, set time, appointment
- c. 1385, Geoffrey Chaucer, ‘The Knight's Tale’, Canterbury Tales:
- It is ful fair a man to bere hym euene, / For al day meeten men at vnset steuene.
- c. 1385, Geoffrey Chaucer, ‘The Knight's Tale’, Canterbury Tales:
- period of time, occasion
- 1398, John Trevisa, trans. Bartholomaeus, De Proprietatibus Rerum:
-
Suche stenche is continual and comeþ nouȝt by stemnes.
- (please add an English translation of this usage example)
Scots[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English stewin, from Old English stefn (“voice”), from Proto-Germanic *stebnō, *stamnijō (“voice”), from Proto-Indo-European *stomen- (“mouth, muzzle”). Cognates: see above, steven.
Noun[edit]
steven (plural stevens)
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