(a) Of a person: firm in purpose, belief, faith, etc., unwavering, resolute; ~ in bileve (feith, etc.), ~ in herte (thought, etc.), etc.; ~ in god (order), faithful to God (a religious order); ben ~ in sacrament, ?to receive the sacrament faithfully; (b) of one's heart or mind: firmly fixed; of belief, hope, love, purpose, etc.: resolute, unwavering; devout; ~ knouinge, certain knowledge; ~ livinge, a righteous manner of life; ~ wille, unswerving truth; also, earnest will; seien with word ~, to say firmly, say stoutly; (c) with inf. or that clause: resolute or determined (to do sth., that sb. do sth.); (d) in comparisons: ~ as stele (ston, a wal), ~ as is the ston, sted-faster than is a wal; (e) as noun: one who is resolute, one who is faithful; -- also coll.

(a) Unchanging, stable in form; also fig.; unchanged in estate [quot. c1400]; of a judgment: unaltered; comen to ~ stat, to arrive at a final unchanging state; (b) loyal, constant in devotion; of a wife or widow: faithful, chaste; (c) of God or Christ: unchanging, eternally constant; (d) of a color: representative of constancy; (e) reliable, steady; ~ as stele (a wal, ston in wal), trusty, trustworthy, true; ben ~ of wordes, to be reliable in one's word; (f) predictable.

(a) Firmly fixed in place, immovable; of a structure: strongly built; of teeth: ?firmly rooted; (b) fig. secure, sure, safe; ~ ground, a firm basis; (c) of sight: steadily directed; casten eie in ~ wise on, loken in ~ wise unto, maken eien ~ on, to look steadily upon (sb.).

(a) Strong, sturdy; of a city: well-fortified, mighty; (b) med. maken ~, to cause (the site of an injury) to cicatrize.

(a) Motionless, unmoving; of the hands: not inclined to tremble, steady; (b) inclined to remain in a place; tending not to roam.

(a) Firmly established; of a covenant, terms of a treaty, etc.: binding, valid; of a language: fixed in form; ~ place, a fixed abode; maken ~, to establish (a covenant, kingdom, etc.); also, refl. pledge oneself firmly; (b) lasting, enduring; ~ pes, pes ~; (c) of a disease, a symptom, wrath: persistent, stubborn.

Continual; ben ~ in, to persevere or continue in (sth.).

(a) Well-ordered; of the body: sound, fit; (b) calm; of good cheer [transl. of L animæquior]; (c) brave, courageous, stalwart.

As surname.