steady

adj
/ˈstɛdi//ˈstɪdi/US

Etymology

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 (“steady”), West Frisian stadich (“slow”), Danish stedig, stadig, steeg, Swedish stadig, Icelandic stöðugur, German stätig, stetig. Compare also Old English ġestedegian (“to bring to a standstill”) and Dutch steeds (“more and more”). Adjective sense 8 is a semantic loan from Singapore Hokkien 在 (chāi, “confident, skilled”, literally “steady”).

  1. inherited from stæþþiġ
  2. inherited from stedy

Definitions

  1. Firm in standing or position

    Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.

    • Hold the ladder steady while I go up.
    • Their feet steady, their hands diligent, their eyes watchful, and their hearts resolute.
  2. Constant in feeling, purpose, or pursuit

    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. + 13 more definitions
    1. Phlegmatic, calm

      Phlegmatic, calm; not easily upset, excited, or disturbed.

      • a steady tone of voice
      • 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: […]
    2. Regular and even.

      • the steady course of the Sun;  a steady breeze of wind
      • 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.
    3. Slow.

    4. With whom one is going steady.

      • 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.
    5. Confident and cool-headed under pressure

      Confident and cool-headed under pressure; competent; reliable, adept.

      • You get it right too many times. Your viewers must think you're damn solid, right? Get so many right on TV, steady lah, ang moh, they say, right? Fame gone to your head, is it?
    6. To stabilize

      To stabilize; to prevent from shaking.

      • I took a drink to steady my nerves.
    7. To become stable.

      • The ship steadied in the air. Another spray of ballast came, heavier than the last.
    8. Aspect marker indicating consistency or intensity.

      • Why you steady cappin'?
    9. A rest or support, as for the hand, a tool, or a piece of work.

    10. A regular boyfriend or girlfriend.

      • “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.”
    11. A prostitute's regular customer.

      • 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.
    12. 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.
    13. Alright!, way to go!, nice!

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at steady. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01steady02constant03space04otherwise05respects06respect07regard

A definitional loop anchored at steady. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

7 hops · closes at steady

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA