Middle English Dictionary Entry
steven(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | steven(e n.(1) Also stevenne, stevin(e, -one, stevne, steiven, steivine, stewen, -on, steffen, stephene, (WM) steovene & (early) stefne, stæfn(e, stiefne, stephne, (SWM) stefene, stefvene, steftne, stæven(e, steavene, (dat.) stefenen, stæfnenen & steme, stemne, (early) stemn(a, stæmne; pl. stevenes, stevins, (early SWM gen.) stefne, stafnen & (error) steuys. |
| Etymology | OE stefn, stæfn, stemn voice, sound. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The voice of a human being; a voice; also, a vocal sound; in o ~, with o (on) ~, in unison; mid (with) stille ~, silently; (b) the voice of God or of the Holy Ghost; also, a heavenly voice; the voice of Christ from heaven; (c) the sound or tonal pattern characteristic of and distinctive to an individual's voice; also, a characteristic manner of speaking [quot. a1450, 2nd]; (d) a particular tone, quality, intonation, etc. of the voice; -- used with qualifying adjectives.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)148/20 : Mid þam þe seo stemn þinre gretinge swegde on minum earum, þa blissode min cild on minum innoðe.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.Nicod.(Vsp D.14)87/8 : Adam wæs þa nyðer feallinde, & þæs Hælendes cneow cyssende, & mid tearen geotende, & mid stefne clypigende.
- a1150(?OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)23/10 : Ealle þa Judees cwædan anre stefne þæt he wære deaðes scyldig.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)134/24 : Ðine æhtæ mid stille stæfne wullæð þe wræȝen þus to ðine Drihtne.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)4/4 : Heo clypoden alle anre stefne to him.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8394 : Alle heo weoren stille & swiȝeden mid stæuen; nes þer nan swa hæh mon þat durste word sciren.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14055 : Þa umbe stunde stefne [Otho: stemne] þer sturede; wide me mihte iheren Brutten iberen, and gunne to tellen a feole cunne spellen.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)31/325 : Ha..as þeo þe nes nawt of lihte bileaue, stille, bute steauene on heh, in hire heorte cleopede to criste.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)67/733 : Ivliene..custe ham coss os peis alle as ha stoden ant biheold up part, ant hehede hire steuene.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)72/508 : Bisohten as ha stoden alle in a steuene þet tes meiden moste..bihealden ham alle.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)103/915 : Heo..cleopede toward heouene ful heh mid hire heorte ant wið stille stefne, 'Almihti godd, cuð nu þine mihtes.'
- ?c1335 Þe grace of ihu (Hrl 913)136 : Þe holi man telliþ, seint Austin, Þat þe skeis so sal spec þan, Wan al þing so sal hab fine, In steuen, as hit wer man.
- c1330 St.Greg.(Auch)71/298 : Þat child þan bi gan to scriche Wiþ steuen as it were agrome.
- 1372 Fasc.Mor.(Adv 18.7.21)Tag 7 p.28 : Nout mannis steuene but good wille..is Godis pay.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3765 : Thei..criden alle with o stevene, 'Ha, wher was evere..So noble a knyht as Jason is?'
- a1400(?c1300) LFMass Bk.(Roy 17.B.17)265 : After wasshing þo preste wil loute þo auter..þen he askes with stille steuen [vrr. stewon, steune, stewen] Ilk monnes prayers to god of heuen.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19207 : Þai liftd þair hend all wit a steuen [Frf: a steiuen] And thancked drightin dere of heuen.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28861 : Almus thirles heuen..Criand o crist wit-vten steuen, þat þe giuer mai helped be.
- a1400(?a1325) Bonav.Medit.(1) (Hrl 1701)382 : For ȝow we preyd alle with o steuene Þat he shuld nat suffre þe dey þus.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)9674 : Vnto þe kyng scho come in hy and haylssed hym be steuyn full styll.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)11258 : On both his knese þen knelse he doun and prayd to god with stabyll steuyn To send sum segn in þat seson þat his name myȝt be new to neuyn.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)2584 : All they sayd with one steuen, 'Lordyngis, how longe wolle ye chyde?'
b
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)36/31 : Ac him clypode þærrihte to swyðe egeslic stæmne of heofone, þuss cweðende, 'Þu Nabucodonosor, þin rice gewit fram þe, [etc.].'
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.Nicod.(Vsp D.14)82/31 : Heom com þa stefne of heofone, þuss cweðende, 'Beo Godes mihte & leafe, writað & geswutelieð eallen mannen.'
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.Nicod.(Vsp D.14)85/3 : Onmang þan þa com þær mycel stefne & gastlic clypigende swylce þunreslege, & þuss cweðende, 'Attollite portas.'
- a1150(?OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)22/3 : Eft fæder stæfne wæs gehyrd of heofone, þuss cweðende, 'He grecegð me his fæder & ic hine asette ofer eallen eorðlice kingen.'
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Nicod.(Bod 343)8/3 : Ðe Gast orðæð soðlice þær þær he orðiæn wule, & þu his stæfne iheræst; ac ðu swaðeah nast hwanon ðe Gast cume oððe hwider he fare.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)108/17 : An stæfne wæs iworden on þam miste, þus cwæðende, 'Þis is mi leofæ sune þe me wæl licæð.'
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)14/8 : Ða dude dauid swa ðeo stefne him bæd.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)14/29 : Þa com him stæfn of hoefenum, þus cwæðende, 'Dauid nis ðe nan neod embe þæt to swincenne.'
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)10962-3 : Þatt steffne þatt off heoffne comm, Itt wass þe Faderr steffne.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)71/25 : Ðis is ȝesæd bi ða manne ðe forlat al ðe woreld and folȝeð godes stiefne, ðe ðus seið: 'Venite ad me, [etc.].'
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)55/483 : He wið his stefne þe storuene astearde & mid his word awahte þe liflese liches to lif.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)83/5 : Þe hali trinite þrumnesse on englisch schawde hire al to him: þe feader in his steuene, þe hali gast i culure heow, þe sune in his honden.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)211/9 : Marie dale is..reste of alle worldes noise, þet na þing ne lette hire to heren godes steuene.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)355 : After ðis dede a steuone cam: 'Ðu, nu quor art, adam, adam?'
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2780 : Vt of ðat busk, ðe brende and ðheg, God sente an steuene, brigt and heg: 'Moyses, moyses, do of ðin son.'
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2551 : Abram..Slepped and herd our lauerd steuen Sothli till him spak in sueuen.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)28.3,4 : Steuen of lauerd, þat es balde, Ouer watres þat ere kalde..Steuen of lauerd in mighte it es; Steuen ofe lauerd in mikelnes.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)9/15 : Noght by my strenkyth but by my steuyn, a firmament I byd apere.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)4767 : Sone he herd þe same steuyn cald on hym and sayd, 'samuell.'
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 2403)302/18 : A steven comme and tolde þe Emperour þat hit was þe yong man..þat hed wryt þylke lettre.
c
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)27/10 : Rode..þa þa heo oncneow Petrus stemne, ne mihte heo for þære blisse þa dure geopenigen.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)53/3 : Sing i mine earen, for þi þet tu ne wilnest bute to seo mi wlite, ne speoke bute to me; þi steuene is me swete & ti wlite schene.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)105/2158 : Whan þat hors herde neuene His kende lordes steuene, His rakenteis he al te-rof.
- c1330 Roland & V.(Auch)815 : When rouland herd þat steuen, He stirt him vp ful euen.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.873 : Whan I here of hir vois the stevene, Me thenkth it is a blisse of hevene.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)307 : I calde, and þou knew myn vn-cler steuen.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)129 : If he ask here in oure steuen 'Whylk er þo men sall won in heuen?'..þus oure lord answers..'Qui ingreditur sine macula.'
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)137 : 'Qui ingreditur sine macula,' He answers þus by prophet steuen, Wysand vs þe way to heuen: 'He þat enters þis world within Clensid clen of all hys syn.'
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)561 : 'Awak,' to me he seyde, Ryght in the same vois and stevene That useth oon I koude nevene.
d
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.656 : Þa stod seo kyning up to foren ealle his ðægna & cwæd luddor stefne.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)28/20 : He spæc mid woplicre stæmne..to þære ceastreware..for þan þe he wyste heora forwyrd rædlice toweard.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)33/21 : He..his sune Maximun..mid gedrefedre stæmne clypode.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)10/31 : Heo þa alle mid ludere stæfne to heoræ drihtne clypien ongunnon & his mildheortnesse bæden.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1801 : Leir..þas wuord seide mid soðere stefuene, 'After vuele cumeð god.'
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8204 : King Aurilien..clepede to his leoden ludere stæuene, 'Ærneð æuere vorð & vorð; Hengest is ifaren norð!'
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10356 : Childric..andswarede wið ærm-liche stefene, 'Ȝif hit wulle Baldulf..þat we bidden Ardures grið..don ich hit wulle.'
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10406 : Þenne siȝeð him to segges vnder beorȝen, mid hornen, mid hunden, mid haȝere stefenen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)11187 : Þis iherde Arður..& he gan lihȝen luddere steftne, & he gon andswerie mid ædmode worden.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)11836 : He lehȝen agon ludere stæfnenen.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)48/12 : Com þe culure..& seide hire sweteliche to, wið swotest a steauene [Roy: swotest alre stefne], 'Eadi art tu, meiden.'
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)186/12 : He bigon to greden wið reowðfule steuene [Cai: steauene], 'Heloy, heloy, lamazabatani?'
- a1275 *St.Marg.(2) (Trin-C B.14.39)54 : Maidan Maregrete..sone ham onswerede wid wel milde steuene.
- c1300 Assump.Virg.(1) (Cmb Gg.4.27)113/88 : He sente hire on Aungel of heuene And grette hire wiþ murie steuene.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)346 : To hir he spac wel euen Wiþ a wel queynt steuen.
- a1350 St.Alex.(1) (LdMisc 108)43/202 : Þe holy gost..ȝiuen him..grace, þat his preyer wiþ milde stephene Is good & swete & mylde in heuene.
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)577 : Þare he prayed with myld steuen Vn-tyll his fader heghest in heuen.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2562 : The voys of peple touched the heuene, So loude cride they with mury steuene.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.493 : With so swete a stevene Lik to the melodie of hevene In wommanysshe vois thei singe.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)770 : He cryed hym after wyth careful steven.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2336 : Þenn he melez muryly wyth a much steuen & with a ry[n]kande rurde he to þe renk sayde, [etc.].
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2328 : She cryeth 'syster!' with ful loud a stevene [vr. stewen], And 'fader dere!' and 'help me, God in hevene!'
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)411 : Byd hem say..'Fader owre þat art in heuene..' with meke steuene.
- 1485(a1470) Malory Wks.(Caxton:Vinaver)1257/15 : Than syr Launcelot sayd wyth drery steven, 'Syr Bysshop, I praye you gyve to me al my ryghtes that longeth to a Crysten man.'
- c1485(?a1400) Child Bristow (Hrl 2382)117 : 'Allas!' he seid, and 'welaway,' With a rufulle stevyne.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)193 : He prayd god wyth softe steuene To saue hym for hys namys seuene.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)106 : They cryedde vpon hyȝe with a dolefull steuenne.
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)74 : The Emperour had bataylys sevyn; He spake to them wyth sterne steuyn.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10898 : Pantasilia the pert with a pure steuyn Criet on hir company with a cant wille.
2.
(a) A sound; a noise; an outcry; also, the sound of a horn; (b) the sound(s made in pronouncing a person's name; (c) a melody, tune; a song; (d) the characteristic sound made by an animal or a bird; also, the song of a bird taken as a meaningful utterance [quot. c1395].
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)72/21 : Biter byð þæs dæges stæmne, þær byð se strange gedrefod.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)117/28 : Ic þære wynsume stæmne ormætes dreames geherde.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10830 : To þere mid-nihte Arður aras forð-riht; hornes me gon blawen mid hahȝere stafnen; cnihtes gunnen arisen and ræhȝe word speken.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)113 : Ascendit deus in iubilo et dominus in uoce tubarum..ure drihten steh on wordlese songe and on bemene stefne.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1402 : Sturnen trumpen strake steven in halle.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1778 : Þay..Stelen stylly þe toun er any steven rysed.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1219 : Among al this to rumbelen gan the hevene; The thunder rored with a grisely stevene.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1251 : Þe multitude was sa mekill as mynes vs þe writtis..Sa stithe a steuyn in þe stoure of stedis & ellis, As it was semand to siȝt as all þe soyle trymblid.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1386 : Now tenelis vp taburs and all þe toun rengis, Steryn steuyn vp strake, strakid þar trumpis.
b
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)54 : Þo Floriz iherde his lemman nempne, So blisful him þuȝte þilke steuene, He let fulle a cupe of win.
c
- a1325 SLeg.Dunstan (Corp-C 145)179 : Al by him sulue he gan to harpe a murye stemne iwis Þat me singþ ȝute in Holy Churche.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8916 : Virgine..he was Whom seþþen þe holi Godes gras Rauist into þe þridde heuen, Where he herd angels steuen.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1125 : Al songe to loue þat gay juelle; Þe steuen moȝt stryke þurȝ þe vrþe to helle.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)1152 : Oure ladi out of this world gan pas, And þere aungellis with meri steven Bere hir vp right to heuen.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)6408 : He saw aungels bere to heuen Saint aydane saule with ioyful steuen.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)80 : Now, mynstrell, blow vp with a mery stevyn.
d
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)103/31 : Nu gyf þu cwetst, 'Cras, Cras,' þæt is þæs hræfenes stefne.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)147/23 : His [Phoenix's] stemne is swa briht swa beme.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)314 : Þu me..telst þat ich ne can noȝt singe..Þat nis noȝt soþ; ich singe efne, Mid fulle dreme & lude stefne.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)317 : Þu wenist þat ech song bo grislich, Þat þine pipinge nis ilich; Mi stefne is blod [Jes-O: bold] & noȝt un orne.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)504 : Þu..pipest al so doþ amose Mid chokeringe, mid steune [Jes-O: stefne] hose.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4387 : Chauntecler..knew..That is was pryme and krew with blisful steuene.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4481 : Trewely the cause of my comynge Was oonly for to herkne how that ye synge, For trewely ye han as myrie a steuene As any aungel hath that is in heuene.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3025 : Thogh him lacke vois..He gan up with his feet areche And, wailende in his bestly stevene, He made his pleignte unto the hevene.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.150 : The vertu of the ryng..Is this, that if hir list it for to were..Ther is no fowel..That she ne shal wel vnderstonde his steuene And knowe his menyng..And answere hym in his langage ageyn.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)738 : Leuerockes vpon lofte lyfteneþ her steuenes [vr. steuys]; Burnes busken hem out of bedde.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)307 : Smale foules..songen, everych in hys wyse..Was never herd so swete a steven But hyt had be a thyng of heven.
3.
(a) A prayer; a petition; (b) an utterance, usu. meaningful: a statement; an exposition; a vow, promise, etc.; instruction, teaching; also, a saying [quot. a1450]; chirche ~; (c) a language, tongue; (d) a reputation; fame.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)43 : On diepe wosiðes ich clupe to þe hlouerd, 'hlouerd, her mine stefne.'
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)41/22 : We ȝeiȝeð up on him ofte, & he firseð him awei frommard ure steuene.
- a1275 *St.Marg.(2) (Trin-C B.14.39)163 : Þe heie king of heuene ful wel hauet herd þi steuene.
- a1300 Haly thomas (Jes-O 29)8 : Haly thomas..Vre stephne vnderstonde.
- a1325 Heil beo þou Marie Mylde (StJ-C S.30)3 : To þe i mene mi mone; i preie þou her mi steuene.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)124/2634 : Iesu Crist..Wel herde þat ermites steuene.
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)268 : Lord, herteliche tak hede and herkne my steuene So Fre!
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6836 : In þine herte þenke al þi wille, And þou it shalt wite snelle; For biholde! vp riȝth þi steuene [LinI: steouene] Js yherd in to heuene.
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn)34/18 : Whene we calle on hyme..he with-drawes hym agayne fra oure steuene, for he will noghte it here.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2773 : 'More and more,' þis is my steuene; If I myth alwey dwellyn in prosperyte, Lord God, þane wel were me.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)217 : Þis was her songe & her steuen, Ioye to þe Fader in Heuen.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)995 : Ȝyf our kyng wyll her my steuene, Þou schalt be made knyȝt.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)14/175 : God that shope both erth and heuen, I pray to the thou here my steven.
b
- a1150(?OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)23/17 : Hwæt wene þe nu gyf ge gelyfen nylleð on God, þæt ge mugen ætwinden þan ecen wite þonne oðre þeode gelyfeð þære witegane stefne & þæra hehfædera?
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)94/15 : Oft bið þeo sawle on..ane þohte swa bisiȝ þæt..ðeah heo summe stefne ihyre, heo hit ne understont.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)38/266 : Þeos meiden þet ich munie stot þurh þeos steauene stercliche istrenget, ant abad baldeliche aðet me com.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)38/12 : Nart tu nawt wurðe..to here mi steauene ant hure to understonden se dearne & se derf þing of godes dihelnesse.
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)16/143 : Nis þer na steuene bituhhe þe fordemde bute 'wumme' & 'wa is me.'
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)44/23 : Bacbitunge & fikelunge..ne beoð nawt monnes speche, ah beoð þe deofles bleas & his ahne steuene.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)727 : Me singþ in holi chirche..Þat he..nime ȝeme of chirche steuene.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1275 : Þanne she hauede herd the steuene Of þe angel uth of heuene, She was so fele siþes blithe Þat she ne mithe hire ioie mythe.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)639 : Listneþ wele to mi steuen.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)113/2342 : Þai ne hadde doluen but astounde, Þat the caundroun was ifounde..Þo was ileued þe schildes steuen.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)125/309 : Man ne mot nouȝt her y-wyte Wat hys so heȝ a steuene.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.847 : Wher was ther evere such a knyht That so thurgh his ungentilesce..Ayein his trowthe brak his stevene?
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3784 : Open him thoght þe ȝate of heuen And herd o drightin suilk a steuen [Frf: steyuen]: 'Godd and lauerd,' he said, 'i am.'
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)20484 : Our leuedi þan herd þat steuen þat þe angel said hir to.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)505 : Here my steuene: Swiþe selcouþ is þi sweuene.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4559 : Als tyte, when þai haf herd þis steven, In a cloude þai sal stey up til heven.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)27989 : Licheri..es so..greuos..þat..all þe eres þat heres þe steuins And all þe elementes vmlayd Er filed þarwith.
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)89 : Now is þis a wonder steuene: Heuene is in erthe and erthe in heuene.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)119/3554 : Syn that y haue my steffen thus forswore, The feere y haue me grevith now so sore That by my lijf y sett not here a pese.
- c1475 Earth(3) (Brog 2.1)25/49 : Erth vppon erth, take tent to my steyuyne: Whyl þou leuyst, fulfyle þe werkys of mercy vij.
c
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)368 : When god saw them sett so in prid, he kast forto dystroy þer steuen.
- a1500 As I walkyd vppon (Hnt HM 183)39 : This wownd is noryssher off wowndis sevyn: Superbia he is the principall: Pride pertely yn english stevyn.
d
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1723 : Swich a vois was of hym and a stevene Thorughout the world, of honour and largesse, That it up rong unto the yate of hevene.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)738 : Aftur when ysac wex on eld, A stalworthy man of state and steuyn, hys fader, for hys sed suld ȝeld, A guf [read: gud] wyfe to hym can he neuyn.
4.
(a) The physical ability to speak; (b) the right to speak.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)23/17 : Þisne læcecraft man sceal don þan manne, þe hura stemna offylþ, ðæt Greccas nemneþ catulemsis.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24000 : O wijttes all me wantid might, Gang and steyuen and tung and sight.
b
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)83 : Mon hefde uorloren efre stephne bi-uore gode. Þa com þes Mon..þes mihte speken ouer al þes Mon bi-com uorspeker; he isehtnede god and man.