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steady

Pronunciation: /ˈstɛdi/

The English word “steady” has 16 meanings listed here.

adjective

  1. Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.
  2. Constant in feeling, purpose, or pursuit; not fickle, changeable, or wavering; not easily moved or persuaded to alter a purpose; resolute.
  3. Smooth and not bumpy or with obstructions.
  4. Phlegmatic, calm; not easily upset, excited, or disturbed.
  5. Regular and even.
  6. Slow.
  7. With whom one is going steady.
  8. Confident and cool-headed under pressure; competent; reliable, adept.

verb

  1. To stabilize; to prevent from shaking.
  2. To become stable.

particle

  1. Aspect marker indicating consistency or intensity.

noun

  1. A rest or support, as for the hand, a tool, or a piece of work.
  2. A regular boyfriend or girlfriend; somebody to go steady with.
  3. A prostitute's regular customer.

adverb

  1. To row with pressure at a low stroke-rating, often 18 strokes per minute.

interjection

  1. Alright!, way to go!, nice!

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…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.