a. and sb. Obs. exc. arch. Forms: α. 1 stǽlwierðe, -wyrðe, 2 stele-, 3 stealewurðe; 3 stalwarþe, 5– -warth; 3 stalewurðe; 3–4 stalwrthe; 3–5 stalworþe, 4–6 -worthe, (5 staloworth), 6 stalwoorth; 4–5 stallworthe, stalwurþe, -wurthe, (5 stalwort), 4–7, 9 arch. stalworth. β. 3–5 stalword(e. γ. 3–5 stalwarde, 3 stalewarde, 4, 6, 8 Sc. stalward. (See also STALWART a.) δ. 3 staðelwurðe. [OE. stǽlwierðe, f. stǽl place + wierðe WORTH a.
The length of the vowel in the first syllable seems to be authenticated by some of the early ME. forms; the shortening of ǽ to ă in the first element of a compound is normal. The OE. stǽl (the quantity of which is certain from the three occurrences in poetry) appears not to be immediately connected with the synonymous stæl with short vowel (dat. stale); according to some scholars it represents a contraction of OTeut. *staþl- or *stađl-, the relation of OE. stǽl to staðol foundation (see STADDLE sb.) being considered parallel with that of mǽl speech to the synonymous mæðel. The 13th-c. form staðelwurðe, occurring only once (see 3 δ) strongly confirms this view.
The early ME. forms with medial e, stele-, steale-, stalewurðe are difficult to account for.]
A. adj.
† 1. (OE.) Of things: Serviceable. Obs.
O. E. Chron., an. 896. Þa [scipu] þe þær stælwyrðe wæron binnan Lunden byriʓ [hie] ʓebrohton.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xvii. (1871), 115. Se ðe ʓeornlice conn onʓietan ðæt he of him gadriʓe ðat him stælwierðe sie [L. quod adjuvat].
a. 1000. Ælfred’s Blooms, in Cockayne, Shrine (1864), 192. He ʓyfð … gooda ʓifa on þissa wurlda þeah hi eca ne sien hi beoð þeah stælwyrða þa hwile þe we on on þisse wurlde beoð.
2. Of persons, and animals: Strongly and stoutly built, sturdy, robust.
α. c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 25. He … þenchet ic em hal and fere and strong and stelewurðe ʓet ic mei longe libben and alle mine sunne timliche ibeten.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1950. Alle on stalworth stedes stoutliche i-horsed.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 846. On stal-worth schonkez.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 263. Þerfore þey haueþ stalworþe children and stronge.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., V. lxxii. (1811), 50. Maximian … was stalworth and mighty of his handes.
1565. Golding, Ovid’s Met., I. (1593), 25. A staleworth stripling strong and stout.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, VII. xxvii. His stalworth steed the champion stout bestroad.
1847. Longf., Evang., I. i. 43. Stalworth and stately in form was the man of seventy winters.
1864. Le Fanu, Uncle Silas, I. xv. 168. The stalworth lady.
1889. D. C. Murray, John Vale’ Guardian, xxiv. in Chamb. Jrnl., 8 June, 356/2. We’re a pretty stalworth set o’ people.
β. 1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVIII. 310. Apon a stalward horss he raid.
3. Of persons, their actions, etc.: Brave, courageous, valiant, mighty.
α. a. 1225. Juliana, 44. Þeo ilke þat beoð stalewurðe [MS. Bodl. stealewurðe].
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 702. A stalewurðe deð.
c. 1300. Havelok, 25. He was þe stalworþeste man at nede, Þat may riden on ani stede.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 9833. Þat blessyng … makeþ vs stalwurþe yn batayle whan þe fende wyl vs asayle.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (Verse), 276. For god makes þam so mekli of mayne And stalworth to stand him [þe deuel] a-gayne.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 365. Mony stalworth in stoure.
1577. Holinshed, Hist. Eng., I. 286/1. Harolde answered, that they were not Priestes, but stalwoorth and hardie Souldiours.
a. 1650. Turke & Gowin, 25, in Percy Fol. MS. (1867), I. 91. Giue thou be neuer soe stalworth of hand I shall bring thee to the ground.
1808. Scott, Marm., I. v. He was a stalworth knight, and keen.
1853. Rock, Ch. Fathers, I. ix. (1903), III. 251. England’s most stalworth knights.
β. 1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3960. Þe kniȝtes þe stalwordore & þe betere in hor dede.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XV. lxxxvi. (1495), 522. The men … ben stalword men, stronge werryours and fyers.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 3937. Þa foule Backes, Als store & as stalword as þire sedill dowis.
γ. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 272. Hwon hit unstrencðeð, þet schulde beon monlich & stalewarde & kene ine treowe bileaue.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 428. Vor godes loue stalwarde men armieþ ȝow vaste.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVI. 356. Till withstand Men that thame soucht vith stalvard hand.
1595. J. Davidson, in C. Rogers, Three Sc. Reform. (1874), 104.
| John Knox that valyant Conquerour, | |
| That stood in many stalward stour. |
c. 1750. D. Graham, Hist. Rebell., iii. Writ. 1883, I. 109.
| That stalward Duke’s so fierce and keen, | |
| Were he defeat, ’twould end the scene. |
δ. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 272 (Cleop. MS.). Staðelwurðe [cf. γ].
† 4. = STRONG in various applications. Obs.
α. a. 1300. Cursor M., 17342. Þai ledd ioseph … to prisun in a stalworth hald.
a. 1340. Hampole, Ps. ii. 9. Þis wand … stalworth & lastand.
1340–70. Alisaunder, 1230. Þat stalworthe sted [Constantinople].
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 68. Whanne a stomake ys hoot, stalworthe, and good.
γ. 1375. Barbour, Bruce, X. 491. Douglass the castell sesit ali, At than wes closit vith stalward vall.
c. 1750. D. Graham, Hist. Rebell., ix. Writ. 1883, I. 158.
| Thus over Spey all safely came, | |
| That rapid river and stalward stream. |
† B. sb. A strong and valiant man. Obs.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1659. Wyth stille stollen countenance þat stalworth to plese.
a. 1500[?]. Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.), II. 41. Suche a stalwarde before me never stood So stowte and stearne is he.
