Middle English Dictionary Entry
stī(e n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | stī(e n.(2) Also stiȝe, ste, (chiefly N) stegh. |
| Etymology | ON (cp. OI stigi, stegi); also cp. OE stige ascent or descent, upstige staircase or ladder. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A ladder; also fig.; ?also, one of the uprights of a ladder [last quot.]; ~ staf, a rung of a ladder.
Associated quotations
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3779-81 : In slepe, he [Jacob] sagh stand vp a sti [Frf: ladder] Fra his heued right to þe ski; Apon þe sti þat þar was bun Angls climand vp and dun.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)11/21 : Þe stiȝe betakins vre lif here; þe stiȝe hauis tua tres, bitakins þe body and te saul.
- c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)481 : Moder of mercy and qwene of pite..Thou art the stegh of Iacob, thurgh wham is gate to heuen.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)798 : If we our dedes wil duly drese To..win vnto þe hight of heuyn..Hus bus be-gin..To rase þe stegh þat rechis þer-til.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1437 : Sum stepis vp on sties to þe stane wallis; On ilka staffe of a staire..stike wald a cluster.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)911 : Als he lay on a land slepand Abowtt mydnyght, A stegh he saw vp stand from erthe to heuyn on hyght.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)199/18 : He saw..a hy leddir..and as hym thoght, þat stie stude evyn in myddeste of hell.
- c1450 Bk.GGrace (Eg 2006)266/5 : Sche sawe a stye or a leddere mayde of ix grees fulfillede alle abowte here ande þarewith a multitude of aungellys.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)120a : A Ste or A leddyr: Scala.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)360 : A Stee staffe: scalare.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)53/37 : That god leynyd hym to a stegh And spake to me, it is no leghe.
- a1500 *Medulla (Cnt D.2)70b/a : Interscalaris: betwene styes of ladders.