Middle English Dictionary Entry
sted-fast adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | sted-fast adv. Also (?error) stedfas. |
| Etymology | From sted-fast adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Resolutely, without wavering; stubbornly; (b) securely, firmly; tightly; (c) sturdily, stoutly; (d) continually, steadily, without ceasing; ~ as ston; dwellen (stonden) ~, to continue, persevere.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)55/1532 : No lesse Nys hyt, wane man stedeuast by-lefþ, Sacrement of þe messe.
- c1390 Þe wyse mon in (Vrn)87 : In herte loke þou holde stedefast Þe benfet þat þou ones hast.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7573 : Godd..Sauues noght man in wapen bright, Bot for to trou in him stedfast [Trin-C: studfast; Arms: stidfaste].
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)27298 : Þou teyche þe sinful wele wiþ-alle..þat he stedefast hope & trow to haue mercy of squete ihesu.
- (?c1425) Hoccl.Jonathas (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)410 : In hir malice ay stood shee stidefast.
- (1458) Visit Hen.VI (Vsp B.16)2 : Whan charite is chosen with states to stonde Stedfas and skill [vr. Stedfast and styll] without distaunce, Than wrathe may be exiled out of this londe.
- c1475 Chaucer CT.Pars.(Trin-O Arch.49)I.87 : Stedfast [Heng: He shal..stedefastly purposen in his herte to haue shrift of mouthe and to doon satisfaccion].
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)8003 : Þat oþer is þat he..haue stedfast in his þoght Þat þe deuel shal faile him noght.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8483 : Stedfast [Frf: Stedefaste; Trin-C: Studfaste] stode þe marbel stan.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.19 : Whan þei wende ful assurid be And haue stonde stedefast in quiete, Þis blinde lady falsly made flete In-to her sugre galle of discordance.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)201/15 : Anone this mountayns tham Ioynet to-gedyr so stydfaste that none of tham myght outgone by none engyne.
c
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)11703 : Anoon þe tre stirte vp stidefaste; Vndir þe rote a welle out braste.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)4 Kings 21.15 : Þey schul ben in wastite & in raueyne to alle þer aduersaries, for þi þat þei didyn euyl beforn me & dwelleden stedefaste terrynge me.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Esth.3.4 : Þei tolden to Aman, coueitynge to witen wheþer he wolde stonden stedefast in þe sentence.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)55a/a : Blood is I-piȝt in þe longes, but he is more stedefast I-piȝt in þe herte.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)7742 : But two maners of techers þer be In þis world..To þe sonne is like þat oone Þat ȝeueþ his light stedfaste as stoone.