steven

See also Steven, and števen

English

Alternative forms

  • steaven, stevven, stevvon
  • steavyn, stevin (15th-16th centuries)
  • stewyn, stewyne, stewin, stevyne (Scotland)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈstiːvən/

Etymology 1

From Middle English steven (“voice, command, constitution”), from Old English stefn, stemn (“voice”), from Proto-Germanic *stebnō, *stemnō (“voice”), from Proto-Indo-European *stomen- (“mouth, muzzle”). Cognate with Old Frisian stifne, stemme (“voice”), Old Saxon stemna (Dutch stem, “voice”), Old High German stimma, stimna (German Stimme, “voice”), Gothic 𐍃𐍄𐌹𐌱𐌽𐌰 (stibna, “voice”), Ancient Greek στόμα (stóma, “mouth”). See also stevvon.

Noun

steven (plural stevens)

  1. (UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) The voice, now especially when loud or strong.
    • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book XXI:
      Than Syr Launcelot sayd wyth drery steven, ‘Syr Bysshop, I praye you gyve to me al my ryghtes that longeth to a Crysten man.’
    • a1801, R. Gall, Poems & Songs (1819) 93:
      Then could her Sangsters loud their steven raise.
    • 1865, W. S. Banks, List Provinc. Words Wakefield:
      Thah's a rare stevven, lad.
    • a1886, G. E. Mackay, Love Lett. Violinist (1895) 197:
      He..lifted up his steven To keep the bulwarks of his faith secure.
  2. (obsolete) Speech, language.
  3. Voice; cry; that which is uttered; petition; prayer.
    • a1500 (1460), Towneley Plays (1994) I. ii. 17:
      God that shope both erth and heuen, I pray to the thou here my steven.
    • 1589, T. Lodge, Scillaes Metamorphosis E 2:
      Father of light..Bring to effect this my desired steauen.
  4. A word, command, bidding or direction given.
    • 1597, T. Middleton, Wisdome of Solomon Paraphr. xviii. xiv–xvi. sig. Y3v:
      And brought thy precept? as a burning steauen, Reaching from heauen to earth, from earth to heauen.
  5. A promise, one's word.
  6. An outcry, shout, or loud call; a clamour/clamor, noise; din.
    • 1826, J. Hogg, Queen Hynde vi, in Poems (1865) 262:
      All nature roar'd in one dire steven; Heaven cried to earth, and earth to heaven.
  7. A sound, the sound of a horn; melody, tune; song; sound made by an animal or a bird.
    ... whereby the little birds weening that the spring time had bin come, did chirp and sing in their steven melodiously — The Golden Asse
Translations
The voice, now especially when loud or strong
(obsolete) Speech, language
That which is uttered; a prayer
A word, command, bidding or direction given
A promise, one's word
An outcry, shout, or loud call; a clamour/clamor, noise
A sound, the sound of a horn; melody, tune; song; sound made by an animal or a bird

Verb

steven (third-person singular simple present stevens, present participle stevening, simple past and past participle stevened)

  1. (transitive, obsolete) To speak; utter; describe; tell of; name.
  2. (transitive, obsolete) To voice an opinion; vote.
  3. (transitive, archaic) To vouch; speak up (for).
  4. (transitive, dialectal) To bespeak.
  5. (intransitive, dialectal) To talk; call out; shout; make a noise.
Translations
To speak; utter; describe; tell of; name
To voice an opinion; vote
To vouch; speak up (for)
To bespeak
To talk; call out; shout; make a noise

Related terms

Etymology 2

From Middle English steven (“appointment”), from Old English stefn (“a time, turn, tour of duty”), from Proto-Germanic *stabnijaz, *stabnijô (“fixed time”), from Proto-Indo-European *stebh- (“a stake, post; to support, stamp, insist, become angry”). Cognate with Middle Low German stevene (“a court appointment”), Old Norse stefna (“appointment, meeting”). More at staff.

Noun

steven (plural stevens)

  1. (obsolete) A time, occasion.
    • 1788, Samuel Johnson, George Steevens, The dramatick writings of Will. Shakspere, with the Notes of all the various Commentators:
      I should choose to read "at this dull season," rather than this dull steven, [...]— John Monck Mason.
  2. (obsolete) A set time; a date or appointment.
    • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VIII:
      And that same nyght that the steavyn was sette betwyxte Segwarydes wyff and Sir Trystrames, so Kynge Marke armed and made hym redy [...].

Verb

steven (third-person singular simple present stevens, present participle stevening, simple past and past participle stevened)

  1. (transitive, obsolete) To call; summon; command; appoint.
  2. (intransitive, obsolete) To alternate; take turns.

Derived terms

  • to set steven
  • unset steven

See also

Anagrams

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Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch stēvene

Noun

steven m (plural stevens, ??? please provide the diminutive!)

  1. the part of a ship's deck that stretches along the entire length of the keel including the bow and the stern

Derived terms

Anagrams

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Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English stefn, stemn (“voice, sound”). More at steven.

Alternative forms

  • stevin, steiven, stephene, steavene, steme, stemne

Noun

steven (plural stevens)

  1. The voice of a human being; a voice.
  2. A vocal sound.
  3. sound; tonal pattern.
  4. Manner of speaking.

Etymology 2

From Old English stefn (“appointed time”).

Alternative forms

  • stemne
  • stevene

Noun

steven

  1. time, set time, appointment
    • c. 1385, Geoffrey Chaucer, ‘The Knight's Tale’, Canterbury Tales:
      It is ful fair a man to bere hym euene, / For al day meeten men at vnset steuene.
  2. period of time, occasion
    • 1398, John Trevisa, trans. Bartholomaeus, De Proprietatibus Rerum:
    • Suche stenche is continual and comeþ nouȝt by stemnes.
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Scots

Alternative forms

  • stevin
  • stewyn

Etymology

From Middle English stewin, from Old English stefn (“voice”), from Proto-Germanic *stebnō, *stemnō (“voice”), from Proto-Indo-European *stomen- (“mouth, muzzle”). Cognates: see above, steven.

Noun

steven (plural stevens)

  1. voice
  2. a loud outcry
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Last modified on 28 December 2012, at 22:25