[f. STEADY a. + -NESS.]
† 1. The condition or quality of standing fast, permanence, stability. Obs.
1530. Palsgr., 275/2. Stedynesse, estableté, permanableté.
1653. H. More, Def. Cabbala, App. viii. (1713), 184. Which word μένειν he often uses in setting out the steddiness and immutableness of the Matter.
2. Freedom from rocking, swaying, tottering, or other irregular movement.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. (Sommer), 122. Himself [sc. a horseman] … shewing at one instant both steadines & nimblenes.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. x. 44. Like the steddinesse of a Ship laden with Merchandise.
1765. Museum Rust., IV. 167. The breadth of the wheels gives a steadiness to the whole machine.
1872. Tyndall, Forms of Water, ¶ 17, ¶ 136. Here perfect steadiness of foot is necessary—a slip would be death.
1910. Encycl. Brit., III. 271/1. To allow for the superior centering of the shot…, Bashforth introduces a factor σ, called the coefficient of steadiness. This steadiness may vary during the flight of the projectile.
3. Freedom from wavering or indecision; constancy or persistence in resolve, attachment or conduct.
1663. Patrick, Pilgrim, xxiii. (1687), 248. So you will be conducted … in paths … of setledness and steadiness of mind.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time, II. iv. (1897), I. 266. The presbyterians, who were quite dispirited by the steadiness of his conduct, would take heart again.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iii. § 7. 149. There is the same steadiness of will and purpose in his patriotism.
1893. Speaker, 20 May, 553/1. The steadiness with which all sections of the Ministerialists have clung to their posts.
b. Freedom from perturbation in mind or demeanor. ? Obs.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., IV. xvi. 323. It is inconsistent with the steddinesse of his gravity to be startled with a wonder.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. § 46. He answered the articles with great steadiness and unconcernedness.
c. Of troops: Firmness in moral.
1666. Dk. Ormonde, in 11th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 13. It has given mee good proof of the steadynesse of the Regiment.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxiii. V. 13. Everything must then be staked on the steadiness of the militia.
d. Of a horse: Freedom from skittishness or nervousness.
1835. [Sir. G. Stephen], Adv. in Search of Horse, ix. 125. Steadiness is a great virtue in a gig-horse.
4. Uniformity of action, maintenance of an even rate of progress or level of quality, amount, and the like.
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, I. v. § 4. 74. The learned … understand the reason of Art, the unlearned feele the pleasure…: softnesse doth take them both, and forciblenesse doth stirre them both alike; both approve of steadinesse … and loathe all manner of excessivenesse.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., I. I. xi. 263. The durableness of metals is the foundation of this extraordinary steadiness of price.
1882. Jrnl. Fabrics, 12 Feb., 68/2. Linen.—Trade has presented a fair degree of steadiness during the whole month.
1884. Law Times, 13 Sept., 331/2. The electric light was turned on, but refused to burn with any kind of steadiness.
5. Sobriety or regularity of living.
1864. Smiles, G. & R. Stephenson, iii. 32. He had contrived, by thrift, steadiness, and industry, to save as much money as enabled him to take a cottage-dwelling.
