Now Sc. and dial. Forms: 4 stef (inflected and as adv. steve), 6, 9 steve, 6 steif, 7 steave, 8–9 sti(e)ve, 9 steive, 8– steeve. [ME. stef (inflected steve), of uncertain etymology; connection with the synonymous STIFF a. is doubtful. Cf. Du. and LG. stevig of the same meaning; by some referred to the root of STAFF sb.1] a. adj. Firm, unyielding, strong, † rigid, stiff (as in death). b. adv. Firmly, unyieldingly.
c. 1300. Leg. Gregory (Schulz), 574. Gregorij was feir of teyle, Strong and stef in eueri liþ.
a. 1320. Sir Tristr., 3079. Bifore was stef on stede Tristrem and ganhardine.
a. 1330. Otuel, 447. Þei riden to-gedere wiþ speres kene, Þat were steue & nouȝt longe.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 7116. He to grounde plat þere, Al so he stef & stan-ded were.
13[?]. Guy Warw., 438. Loue me doþ to grounde falle, Þat y ne may stond stef wiþ alle.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2894. Was non so stef him wiþ-stod so sternli he wrouȝt. Ibid., 3600. He dede þen his stef stede stert a god spede.
c. 1375. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., I. 286. Bodi of Crist þat was stable and stef in al his temptaciouns. Ibid. (1382), Deut. ix. 14. Y shal set thee vpon folk that is more and strenger [v.r. steuere; Vulg. fortior] than this. Ibid., Jer. xxxi. 9. Y shal lede them bi stef stremes of watris [Vulg. per torrentes aquarum.]
1581. Satir. Poems Reform., xliv. 177. Vnder the schaddou lat Louson fut it steue, Scurgar of Christ, quhilk is ane odius thing.
1594. A. Hume, Hymnes, ii. 113. The earth, quhilk of it selfe, is stable, firme, and steif.
1637. Ld. Wariston, Diary (S.H.S.), 251. The roots of my haire … stood al steave.
a. 1774. R. Fergusson, Hallowfair, xiii. Wks. (1805), 141. It’s gude, as lang’s a canny chiel’ Can staun steeve in his shoon.
1786. Burns, To Auld Mare, iii. A filly buirdly, steeve an’ swank.
a. 1801. H. Macneill, To C. L., Poet. Wks. II. 46. Wi’ crack—and joke—and steeve rum toddy.
1819. W. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d (1827), 119. Doth by this mou’ o’ mine defy The steevest o’ your host.
1829. Brockett, N. C. Gloss. (ed. 2), Stive, strong, muscular.
1870. J. Nicholson, Idylls, 114. We’re a’ grown steeve abstainers noo.
Hence † Stefhede [see -HEAD], firmness; † Stefnes [see -NESS], rigidity.
1340. Ayenb., 263. Bote yef þe ilke uaderes stefhede hise strayny and ordayny.
c. 1530. Judic. Urines, II. xii. 41. Grete swellyng & betyng & stefnes at ye breste.
