Pa. t. and pa. pple. stepped (stept). Forms: α. 1 steppan, North. steppa, stepa, 3 steppen, (stepen), 3–7 steppe, 3– step. β. 1 stæppan, 3–5 stappe, stap, 4–5 stapp, stape, 7– Sc. stap. Pa. t. α. 1 stóp, pl. stópon, 3–4 stop, pl. stopen. β. 3 step, steap, steop, pl. stepen, 3–4 stepe. γ. 3–5 stap, 5 stappe. δ. weak forms. 3–4 stapte, 4–5 stapped, -id, 6 stepte, 7 step’d, 7– stepp’d, 5– stept, stepped. Pa. pple. α. 1 (be)stapen, 4–5 stape(n. β. 4–5 stope(n, 6 ystope. γ. 6 step, steppte, 6– stept, stepped. [A Com. WGer. strong verb, with j- present-stem (cf. SHAPE v.). The original conjugation (OTeut. type *stapjan, *stōp-, *stapan-) is completely evidenced only in English and Frisian: OE. stæppan, stęppan, pa. t. stóp, pa. ppl. (be)stapen, corresponds to OFris. *steppa (3rd sing. stepth, stapth, subj. steppe), pa. t. stôp, pa. pple. stapen. The present-stem is normally represented also in OHG. stephen (MHG. stepfen), and WFlem. steppen; the strong pa. t. in OS. stôp and in WFris. stoep, which is the only trace of the strong inflexion surviving in any mod.Teut. dialect. The continental WGer. langs. have a synonymous wk. vb. with pp and without umlaut, (M)LG., (M)Du. stappen, mod.Fris. stappe, OHG. staphôn (MHG., mod.G. stapfen):—WGer. *stappōjan, where the doubled p appears to be due to derivation from the sb. WGer. *stappon- (see STEP sb.); in LG. and Du., however, the history of the form may be complicated with that of the original j- present.
In OE. the normal form stęppan was Anglian, while WS. had the form stæppan, the anomalous vowel of which has not been satisfactorily accounted for. In ME. the forms with a are confined to certain southern writers (cf. mod. Somerset staap). The present Sc. stap, recorded from the 17th c., appears to be a late development.
The normal strong pa. t. and pa. pple. survive into the 14th and 15th centuries, but beside them appear two analogical formations: steop, stepen, app. modelled on the reduplicating verbs (cf. the similar development in MDu. stiep pa. t.); and stap, stappe of uncertain origin. Beside the regular stapen there is also a new pa. pple. stopen. Weak forms are found from the end of the 13th century, and from the 16th century are universal.
The affinities of the Teut. root *stap- are uncertain. On the assumption that the form with single p has been altered by some analogy from *stapp-, with pp representing Indogermanic pn, possible cognates are OSl. (and Russian) stopa, step, pace, stepenī step, degree.]
I. Intransitive.
1. To lift the foot and set it down again on the ground in a new position; to lift and set down the feet alternately in walking; to pace, tread. With adv.: To use a (specified) gait or motion of the feet (often of a horse: cf. 6).
To stop short (Mil.): see quots. 1802, 1859.
c. 1000. Juliana, 374. Stepeð stronglice.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gram., xxix. (Z.), 185. Gradior, ic stæppe.
c. 1205. Lay., 18420. Ac we scullen steppen [c. 1275 stap] heom to, swa we stelen wolden.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 10, in O. E. Misc. Alle hise fet steppes After him he filleð, Draȝeð dust wið his stert ðer he steppeð.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 352. He myȝte neither steppe [C text stappe] ne stonde er he his staffe hadde.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Reeve’s T., 154. Stepe on thy feet, com out, man, al atanes!
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. xcvi. (1495), 843. Apes maye goo and steppe on two fete, for they haue soolys in theyr fete as a man hath.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, III. 54. As sone as þey styffe and þat þey steppe kunne.
1570. Levins, Manip., 70/7. To steppe, gradi, gressus ponere.
1727. H. Bland, Milit. Discipl. (ed. 5), 45. Those who Faced step with their left Feet towards the Rear.
1802. C. James, Milit. Dict., To Step. To move forward or backward, by a single change of the place of the foot…. To step short … is to diminish or slacken your pace.
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 8. Soft would be step lest they his tread should hear.
1829. Lytton, Disowned, xxx. And now tell me all about your horse, does he step well?
1859. F. A. Griffiths, Artill. Man. (1862), 6. In slow or quick time the length of a pace is 30 inches,… in ‘stepping short’ 10.
b. with cognate obj. (a step, stride, etc.).
a. 1023. Wulfstan, Hom., lviii. (1883), 302/27. Ælc þæra stæpa and forlæsta, þe we to cyricean weard … ʓestæppað.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., 6/182. Euerech stape þat we stepen for-barnde onder ore fet.
1802. G. Colman, Br. Grins, Elder Bro. (1819), 125. He couldn’t help, at every step he stepp’d, Grunting, and grumbling.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., iii. Nay, without expecting either pleasure or profit, or both, I had not stepped a stride within this manor.
1893. Kipling, Many Invent., 209. I rose and stepped three paces into the rukh.
c. To move with measured paces in a dance. Also quasi-trans., to go through the steps of, perform (a dance).
1698. E. Ward, Lond. Spy, II. (1706), 46. A Vintners Daughter, bred at the Dancing School,… steps a Minuet finely.
1864. Tennyson, Aylmer’s F., 207. A still brocade in which … she, Once with this kinsman … Stept thro’ the stately minuet of those days.
1878. B. Taylor, Deukalion, III. i. 95. Step to the music of the song I gave, My Poet, homeward!
1893. Chamb. Jrnl., 19 Aug., 518/1. He stepped a minuet gravely and gracefully.
d. Phrase. As good (etc.) a man as ever stepped (in shoe-leather).
1818. [see SHOE-LEATHER].
1834. Westm. Rev., XX. 495. Major Fancourt, as fine a young aristocrat as steps.
2. To move to a new position by extending the foot to a higher or lower level or across an intervening object or space (e.g., in entering or leaving a carriage or boat, ascending or descending stairs); with adv. or prep., as across, in, into, off, out of, on or upon, over, up (see also branches III and IV).
To step short, to make an insufficiently long stride, so that the foot fails to reach the intended position.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xiii. 77. Ðylæs he ofer ðone ðerscold his endebyrdnesse stæppe.
c. 1205. Lay., 32035. He … somnede alle þa scipen … and þohte mid strengðe steppen to londe.
a. 1320. Sir Tristr., 2865. Her hors apolk stap in.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxiii. (George), 259. He one horse gat stepande.
1706. Mrs. Centlivre, Love at Venture, I. i. 3. A Lady designing to Land at White-Hall Stairs, stepping short from the Boat, fell into the Water.
1801. J. Thomson, Poems Scot. Dial., 149. They’ll get for crossin’ o’ a street, Or stappin’ up a stair, Five gude red guineas at a heat.
1823. Syd. Smith, Wks. (1859), II. 21/2. A boat from shore reached the ship, and from it stepped a clerk of the Bank of England.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xi. 70. It was necessary to step from a projecting end of ice to a mass of soft snow. Ibid., xvii. 119. Retaining my boots [I] stepped upon the floating ice.
1886. C. E. Pascoe, Lond. of To-day, xxxiv. (ed. 3), 302. He might … get to the Royal Exchange without once stepping off the pavement.
1890. Bridges, Shorter Poems, III. vii. And in our boat we stepped and took the stream.
fig. 1715. Pope, Iliad, I. Pref. D 3 b. Let them think … that they are stepping almost three thousand Years backward into the remotest Antiquity.
b. To step astray, awry, † beside: to move from the straight or proper path (lit. and fig.). See also step aside in IV.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6897. Ȝif heo quakieþ out Oþer stepþ biside.
1592. Arden of Feversham, I. 373. I cannot speak or cast aside my eye, But he Imagines I haue stept awry.
1598. Bastard, Chrestol., V. xxxiii. 124. He steps awrie, and fals in to Aiax.
1666. Dryden, Ann. Mirab., cclxv. If my heedless Youth has stept astray.
3. In a more general sense: To go or proceed on foot. Now chiefly, to go a ‘step’ or short distance for a particular purpose: often in polite formulas of request or direction to another person. The direction, etc., is indicated by an adv. or prepositional phr.: for further illustration of these see branches III and IV.
c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., III. xiv. (1890), 196. Se cyning … stop ofostlice toforan [þam] biscope & feoll to his fotum.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6293. Is armes he gan to caste & wiþ gret ernest step ner & asailede edmond vaste.
c. 1300. K. Horn, 1392 (Laud MS.). Þe knyt to hem gan steppe.
a. 1400. Octouian, 1435. Clement ner þe stede stapte.
c. 1400. Beryn, 192. And sith to the dynerward they gan for to stappe.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 287. S. Luke had before declared that the Apostles did not step from Hierusalem.
1594. Kyd, Cornelia, V. 324. I stept to him To haue embrac’d him.
1704. Cibber, Careless Husb., V. 59. Step with this to my Lady Graveairs. [Seals the Letter and gives it to the Servant].
1705. [E. Ward], Hudibras Rediv., IV. 12. Who should step by, but Doctor Trotter.
1709. Steele, etc. Tatler, No. 88, ¶ 12. The Gentlewoman of the next House begged me to step thither.
1722. Bp. Atterbury, Lett. to Pope, 6 April. I may step to town to-morrow, to see how the work goes forward.
1794. Mrs. Inchbald, Wedd. Day, I. ii. 7. Your guardian is just stept home, to bring his wife to dine with us.
1835. Lieber, Stranger in Amer., I. 262. Passengers who have not paid their passage, please to step to the captain’s office!
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. V. v. Besenval, before retiring for the night, has stept over to old M. de Sombreuil, of the Hôtel des Invalides hard by.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, VI. (Song), Stole a maiden from her place, Lightly to the warrior stept.
1857. W. Collins, Dead Secret, III. iv. Will you step this way, and see her at once?
fig. 1882. Mrs. Oliphant, Lit. Hist. Eng., I. 3. All is not absolute good or advantage to the human race; but yet the race is stepping onward.
b. with advb. accusative.
1885–94. R. Bridges, Eros & Psyche, Oct. i. [She] chose to step the most deserted ways.
1892. Meredith, Sage Enamoured, Poet. Wks. (1912), 382. She stepped her way benevolently grave.
c. To step and (do something). Now rare.
1704. Cibber, Careless Husb., IV. 46. What say you Ladies, shall we step and see what’s done at the Basset-Table?
1764. Foote, Patron, III. Wks. 1799, I. 353. My good girl, will you step, and take care that when any body comes the servants may not be out of the way.
1802. Mrs. E. Parsons, Myst. Visit, IV. 3. I shall step and visit my patient.
1853. Dickens, Bleak Ho., xlv. Would you step and speak to Mr. Jarndyce?
† d. fig. To advance, proceed (in an action, argument, etc.). Obs.
1599. Hayward, 1st Pt. Life Hen. IV., 65. In priuate attempts, a man may step and stope when he please: but he that aymeth at a kingdome, hath no middle course betweene the life of a prince, & the death of a traytor.
1611. G. H., trans. Anti-Coton, 7. In the Chapter following, hee steppes yet one degree farther; in which hee allowes the poysoning of a Tyrant as iust and lawfull.
1616. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 177. Yet are they … maintainers of their Honours and Families; wherein they step so far as if true gentrie were incorporat with them.
1620. E. Blount, Horæ Subs., 107. Liberality is a Vertue, and so is Parsimony within their seueral bounds, but the error is, when the one steps, or the other declines too neere the contrary.
1644. Milton, Divorce, II. xxi. 75. Thus farre by others is already well stept, to inform us that divorce is not a matter of Law but of Charity.
† 4. In past pple. a. (Well, far, etc.) stepped in age, in or into years: advanced in years, elderly.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Nun’s Pr. T., 1. A poure wydwe, somdel stape [v.r. stope] in Age. Ibid., Merch. T., 270. And trewely it is an heigh corage Of any man that stapen [v.r. stopen] is in age To take a yong wyf.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VI. v. 23. Allthocht he eildit was, or step in age.
c. 1530. Crt. of Love, 281. This old, Thus fer y-stope in yeres.
1562. Legh, Armorie, 69. Certaine knyghtes … beynge sore brused, lamed, and well steppte into yeares.
1593. Nashe, Four Lett. Conf., Wks. (Grosart), II. 253. Shores wife is yong, though you be stept in yeares.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 493. Hellanicus, a man very farre stept in age.
1629. Hobbes, Thucyd., I. 4. Such of the Rich as were any thing stepped into yeeres.
1629. Maxwell, trans. Herodian (1635), 112. He was now well stept in yeares.
† b. Far stepped: far advanced in (an action, attainment, etc.). Obs.
1594. Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits, x. (1596), 145. Not so far stept in perfection as the former.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., I. ii. 83. Since we are stept thus farre in, I will continue that I broach’d in iest. Ibid. (1605), Macb., III. iv. 137. I am in blood Stept in so farre.
5. colloq. To go away, make off. Cf. 3 c. Also to step it.
c. 1400. Beryn, 2433. Beryn gan to stappe, he sparid for no cost.
1851–61. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, III. 198/1. After I had been with him about three months more I ‘stept it’ again.
1859. Hotten’s Slang Dict., 102. Step it, to run away or make off.
1901. Grace MacGowan Cooke, in The Puritan, IX. March, 957/2. Well, I must be stepping—I must be stepping. It’s getting late.
6. Of a horse: To go at a good pace. Also jocularly of persons. Cf. step out, 26 c.
1856. [H. H. Dixon], Post & Paddock, x. 176. The gentler sex seem to step along quite as briskly as their companions.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, I. iv. How that ere cob did step!
1891. S. C. Scrivener, Our Fields & Cities, xii. 95. She could ‘step’ as well as dress herself, and we were very soon on the Hertford road.
7. Naut. and Mech. Of a mast or other upright: To be fixed in its step. Of other parts: To be fixed or jointed in or into (a groove, etc.); to rest securely on or against (a support).
1791. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 81. The lower end of the shores stepping against some hole or prominence of the rock.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVII. 395/2. The quarter-piece…, the heel of which must step on the after end of the middle stool. Ibid., 403/1. The partners on the lower deck, wherein the capstan steps.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 119. Foot-space rail, the rail … in which the balusters step.
1869. Sir E. Reed, Shipbuild., iv. 61. The outer keel-plate … steps up into a rabbet in the side.
8. colloq. To clean doorsteps.
1884. All Yr. Round, 18 Oct., 29/2. A housewife … who will habitually do her own stepping, sublimely regardless of what Mrs. Grundy may say. Ibid., 31/1. Or again … they ‘step’ for houses that are practically in a state of siege.
II. Transitive (causal, or by omission of prep.).
9. To move (the foot) forward or through a specified step. Chiefly with advs., as down, in, across. Phr. to step foot in (a place). Now only U.S.
1540. Palsgr., Acolastus, V. v. A a iv b. Steppe not one foote forth of this place.
a. 1547. Surrey, Compl. Abs. Lover, 2, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 19. Good Ladies,… Step in your foote, come take a place, and moorne with me a while.
1702. H. Blackwell, Engl. Fencing-Master, 51. Engage him in Carte, disingage in Tierce, stepping your Right-Foot a-cross at the same time.
1849. Cupples, Green Hand, xiii. (1856), 130. Stepping one of his long trowser-legs down from over the quarterdeck awning.
1864. R. B. Kimball, Was He Successful? II. i. 182. When Hiram stepped foot in the metropolis.
1880. S. G. W. Benjamin, Troy, I. iv. 26 (Funk). Before the Greeks reached Troy Calchas announced that the first man who stepped foot on the enemy’s soil was doomed at once to die.
10. To measure (a distance) by stepping over it. Also with off, out.
1832. S. Warren, Diary Late Physic., II. iii. 166. At length the work of loading being completed, and the distance—six paces—duly stepped out, the duellists walked up to their respective stations.
1842. Lover, Handy Andy, iii. I, that have stepped more ground and arranged more affairs [sc. duels] than any man in the country!
1856. Miss Yonge, Daisy Chain, II. xi. 456. ‘Ha! hardly space enough, I should say,’ replied Dr. Spencer, stepping it out.
1859. Jephson, Brittany, xii. 210. I endeavoured to calculate its size by stepping it, and found that the capping-stone measured twelve of my strides.
1863. W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, ix. 439. To give myself a good idea in rifle-shooting at game, I have been for years constantly judging and stepping off distances.
11. Naut. and Mech. To fix (a mast or other upright) in or into its step; to fit (a piece) into (a groove, etc.); to fix securely on or against (a support).
1712. W. Sutherland, Shipbuild. Assist., F 7. The most convenient Place for stepping every Mast.
1741. Woodroofe, in Hanway’s Trav. (1762), I. II. xvii. 75. We stept our masts and bowsprit.
1815. Falconer’s Dict. Marine (ed. Burney), To Step a Boat’s Mast, is to erect and secure it in readiness for setting sail.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xvi. 171. It [the mast] was stepped into an oaken thwart.
1874. Thearle, Naval Archit., 196. It was customary to dispose the knight head, stem piece, and hawse timbers in a fore and aft plane, stepping their heels against the foremost canted frame that heeled against the deadwood.
1879. Jefferies, Wild Life in S. Co., 195. These sheds are … supported … by a row of wooden pillars stepped on stones to keep them from rotting.
1892. Daily News, 24 Oct., 2/6. The new flagstaff which is to bear the Royal Standard at Windsor Castle was successfully stepped at 33 minutes past four o’clock on Saturday afternoon.
12. Mech. To cut steps in (a key); to arrange (the teeth of a toothed wheel or rack) stepwise.
1856. G. Price, Depositories, Locks & Keys, 798. In some shops different workmen, who have been stepping keys as they thought quite different from each other, have found that the keys passed each others’ locks.
1869. Rankine, Machine & Hand-tools, Pl. M 2, To prevent jarring the teeth of the driving wheels … are stepped.
1895. Funk’s Stand. Dict., Step,… to cut steps in or adjust tools for cutting steps in (keys or the like).
III. Intransitive uses with prepositions.
13. Step between (or betwixt) —. To come between (two persons, a person and thing, etc.) by way of severance, interruption or interception.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, V. iii. 319. Deadly diuorce step betweene me and you.
1605. 1st Pt. Jeronimo, III. ii. 157. O then stept heauen and I Betweene the stroke.
1615. Heywood, Four Prentices, D 4, Stage-dir., Bell. Stay Gentlemen. Shee stops betweene them.
1742. Gray, Propertius, II. 12. When … Age step ’twixt love and me, and intercept the joy.
1839. T. Mitchell, Frogs of Aristoph., 201, note. We will no longer step between the reader and his mirth.
14. Step into —. a. See sense 3 and INTO prep.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 60. Mid þam ðe se apostol Iohannes stop into ðære byriʓ Ephesum.
c. 1400. Beryn, 309. He stappid in-to the tapstry wondir pryuely.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. ii. 11. Step into th’ chamber, Sir Iohn.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 21 April 1657. I stept into Bedlame, where I saw several poore miserable creatures in chaines.
1732. Swift, etc., Poisoning Curll, Misc. III. 26. He desir’d his wife to step into the Shop for a Common-Prayer-Book.
1765. Bickerstaff, Maid of Mill, III. ii. 57. But, stay and take a letter, which I am stepping into my study to write.
1832. S. Warren, Diary Late Physic., II. ii. 95. Before leaving the house, I stepped into the parlour, to speak a few words to Miss E——.
b. To walk into (a place on a higher or lower level, e.g., a vehicle) by taking one or more steps up or down.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 5793. If þou wilt ben a crysteman, Mahoun þou most for-sake,… And suþþe stape in-to þis water clere.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Passion & Princ., xii. 294. The ladies having set all their finery in order,… the party stepped into the coach.
1862. Borrow, Wild Wales, II. x. 105. Your honour can … trifle away the minutes over your wine … till seven, when your honour can step into a first-class for Bangor.
c. To obtain possession of (an estate, a place or office) at a single step; to succeed at once to (the place of another person or thing).
1607. Shaks., Timon, II. ii. 232. By whose death hee’s stepp’d Into a great estate.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XXX. viii. 389. Leo…, in case the other, now aloft, should once fall downe from the rocke, was readie to step into his Præfectship.
1671. Trenchfield, Cap Gray Hairs (1688), 18. The Discourse of [Religious] Ceremonies hath brought things to this pass … that the Circumstances hath stept into the room of the Substance.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xx. A gentleman in London who had just stepped into taste and a large fortune.
1802. C. James, Milit. Dict., s.v., The guards … have the exclusive privilege of going over this intermediate rank, and stepping into a lieutenant-colonelcy at once.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xvii. 65. William in short had stepped into the place of those whom he had himself overcome.
1886. C. E. Pascoe, London of To-day, xxiii. (ed. 3), 218. Until Button’s Coffee-house stepped into the place of ‘Will’s.’
† d. To enter suddenly and incautiously into (a course of action, etc.). Obs.
1607. Shaks., Timon, III. v. 12. A Friend of mine, who in hot blood Hath stept into the Law, which is past depth To those that (without heede) do plundge intoo’t.
1648. Fanshawe, Il Pastor Fido, etc. 304. In pursuance of this fury, about ten years after, Caius Gracchus stept into action (as the Irish call it) to play the second part of his Brother.
1656. in Burton’s Diary (1828), I. 31. I know no reason for this speed; for we may offend as well in proceeding and sudden stepping into judgments.
15. Step on or upon —. To put the foot down upon; to walk on or over; to tread on (something that lies in the way); fig. to come suddenly upon (a person or thing). Also, to set one’s foot on (a position) from a higher or lower level or by striding across an intervening space.
a. 1000. Cædmon’s Gen., 1136. Siððan Adam stop on grene græs.
a. 1000. Riddles, xxvii. 10. Fuʓles wyn … stop eft on mec.
c. 1205. Lay., 23861. He þat scip stronge scaf from þan londe and stop uppen þat æit-lond.
a. 1290. S. Eustace, 113, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 213. Crist … þat on erþe rod and stop.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6950. Heo stap vpe þis furi yre euerich stape al clene.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 649. For stappyng on a too of a styncande frere.
1417. E. E. Wills, 27/1. That my body be Beryed in the Chirchhey … as men goth ouer into þe church at þe South Syde, ryȝte as they mowe stappe on me.
1530. Palsgr., 734/2. I steppe upon a thyng, je saulx par dessus. Ibid., 735/1. I stepped upon hym or I was ware.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., III. iv. 306. He payes you as surely, as your feete hits the ground they step on.
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 61. The Poët stepping with Phaëton upon the waggon hath noted … every particular.
1901. Abp. Temple, in Sandford. Mem. (1906), II. 702. The moment we begin to assign motives we are stepping on unsafe ground.
16. Step out of —. See simple senses and OUT OF prep.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., I. xxiii. E iv. Dyuerse rowes … full smothly renged and not steppyng out of place.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., I. i. 391 (Qo.). To step out of these dririe dumps.
1691. Hartcliffe, Virtues, 45. When we step out of the way of Virtue.
1704. Norris, Ideal World, I. v. 279. No sooner do we step out of selves, but we launch out into a vast sea of intelligible objects, where we see no shore.
1785. Martyn, Rousseau’s Bot., xxviii. (1794), 438. But here we are stepping out of our province.
17. Step over —. To walk or stride across (an intervening space, cavity or obstacle); fig. to OVERSTEP, transgress; to ‘skip,’ miss or neglect in passing: also Mil. to be promoted to a position above (another who is considered to have a prior claim).
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 527 (MS. β). Ȝif heo stapeth harmles over alle these stappes.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 474/2. Steppyn ovyr a thynge, clunico.
15[?]. Droichis Part of Play, 86, in Dunbar’s Poems, 317. Or he of aige was ȝeiris thre, He wald step over the occiane sie.
1530. Palsgr., 735/1. I wil steppe over this brooke, I holde the a peny.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov., I. xi. (1867), 34. Where thou wilt not step ouer a straw, I thynke.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., IV. ii. 27. Not stepping ore the bounds of modestie.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 192. You must step over a great many people,… lying and tumbling confusedly in the Church.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, I. iv. I stept over the great western gate.
1746. Wesley, Princ. Methodist, 39. Stop, Sir. You are stepping over one or two Points, which I have not done with.
1802. C. James, Milit. Dict., To step over, to rise above another…. As, young men of interest and connection frequently step over old soldiers.
1872. Earl of Pembroke & G. H. Kingsley, S. Sea Bubbles, i. 23. We strolled about the gardens all the evening, stepping over or picking our way between the numerous babies that were scattered about the ground.
1885. E. Gosse, Shakesp. to Pope, 146. Lord Brooke combined, with the old Sidneian sweetness, an ingenuity of phrase, an intellectual and fanciful, rather than a sensual and imaginative element, which really stepped over the Marinists, and linked the Elizabethans with the classical school.
18. Step to —. † To address oneself vigorously to (a task, encounter, etc.). Obs.
1530. Palsgr., 734/2. Step to it, man, hardyment a cela. Steppe to it agayne and take better holde. Ibid. (1540), Acolastus, IV. iv. Vj. Let vs goo to it, or steppe to it (lyke men). Ibid., V. v. A a iij b. What yf I steppe to it, and diuise some humble prayer to my father.
IV. With adverbs.
19. Step aside. intr. a. To go a little distance away from one’s place or from the path one is following; to withdraw or retire for a short distance; to take one or more steps to one’s right or left. Also fig.
1530. Palsgr., 734/2. I steppe a syde out of the way, je me desmarche. Let them lay to my charge what they lyste, I wyll never steppe a syde for it.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 316 b. He steppeth a side into the countrey by.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. i. 162. See where he comes, so please you step aside.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, XI. lxxx. He stept aside the furious blow to shunne.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch, Timoleon, II. 215. Upon which Timoleon stepped aside, and stood weeping.
1859. Musketry Instr., 35. He will leave his rifle on the rest and step aside, in order that the instructor may take his place.
† b. To abscond. Obs.
1620. in Crt. & Times Jas. I. (1848), II. 210. Sir John Samms is stept aside and gone for Bohemia,… being … ready to sink under the burthen of his debts.
1689. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), I. 595. The cook was sent to Newgate, but the lord Griffin himself, hearing of it, is stept aside.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1823), II. 153. They did not know whether he might not have stepped aside for debt.
† c. To make a digression in discourse. Obs.
1653. Gataker, Vind. Annot. Jer., 125. Herodote made his History somewhat the more delightful by stepping aside to tel a tale or two now and then.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 190. I request the indulgence of the reader … while I step aside to give a few directions to the inhabitants of the Highland districts.
d. To deviate from the right path, err, go astray.
1786. Burns, Addr. to Unco Guid, vii. To step aside is human.
20. Step back. (a) To go back a little distance, to retire or withdraw a short distance to the rear. (b) To go one or more paces backwards without turning the body round. Also fig.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Resulto, to … to leape or steppe backe.
1544. Betham, Precepts War, I. cxliii. G viij b. Whome we muste imbolden … that gladly they wyll marche forwarde, and not to steppe backe for anye ieopardyes.
1605. Chapman, All Fooles, II. i. E 1 b. I stept me backe, and drawing my olde friend heere, Made to the midst of them.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 820. Back stept those two fair Angels half amaz’d.
1759. Johnson, Rasselas, xxxi. The favorite of the Princess, looking into the cavity, stepped back and trembled.
1802. C. James, Milit. Dict., Step Back, March,… a word of command which is given when one or more men are ordered to take the back step according to regulation.
1857. Mrs. Gatty, Parab. Nat., Ser. II. 65. He stepped back again to the path.
1859. F. A. Griffiths, Artil. Man. (1862), 6. In stepping back the pace is 30 inches.
21. Step down. a. To go from a higher level to a lower, esp. by treading on a step or stairway. Also, to go a short distance to a place that is, or is regarded as, lower.
a. 1400. St. Alexius, 503 (Trin.). Of here bedde hy sprong … And hardeliche a-doun stap, Þe folk alle among.
1526. Tindale, John v. 7. Another stoppeth [? read steppeth] doune before me.
1590. Tarlton’s News Purgatory, 33. So he stept downe out of the pulpit.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xxi. Pray, step down to the cellar, and fetch us up a bottle of the Burgundy.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Passion & Princ., xi. III. 253. I wish, Macaddle, that to-morrow morning early, you would step down to the Tower, and see the Colonel.
1842. Tennyson, Beggar Maid, 5. In robe and crown the king stept down.
† b. To plant the foot firmly on the ground at each step. Obs.
1747. Gentl. Mag., XVII. 77. Such exercise is not much less salutiferous than riding, if the walker steps down firmly, so as to shake the intestines.
c. trans. in Electr. To lower the voltage of (a current) by means of a transformer. Hence step-down used attrib. or as adj. designating a transformer that does this.
1893. Sloane, Electr. Dict., Step-down adj. … applied to a converter or transformer in the alternating current distribution, indicating that it lowers potential difference and increases current from the secondary.
1903. Electr. World & Engin., 8 Aug., 230 (Cent. Suppl.). The … transformers … stept the pressure down to 2,000 volts.
22. Step forth. To advance a short distance from one’s place or position; to come out to the front or into the midst, present oneself before the public; to advance with some immediate purpose in view. Also fig. of things.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John xi. 44. & sona stop forð se þe dead wæs.
c. 1205. Lay., 25819. Forð he gon steppen.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10763. Son ilkan wit þair wand forth stepe.
1518. Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden Soc.), II. 140. Whan they [jurymen] wer callyd and ther namys redd, steppyd forth one Robert Edward and seyd [etc.].
1526. Tindale, Acts v. 20. Goo, steppe forthe, and speake in the temple to the people.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. iii. 151. Now step I forth to whip hypocrisie.
1605. Chapman, All Fooles, II. i. E 1 b. Steps me forth Their valiant fore-man, with the word, I rest you.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 128. From his armed Peers Forth stepping opposite, half way he met His daring foe.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 188. Why might he not 10000 ages before the world was, give it its bidding to step forth?
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. III. ix. Not for a century and half had Rascality ventured to step forth in this fashion.
1913. D. Bray, Life-Hist. Brāhūī, iv. 62. Then those that can shoot a good shot step forth for a match.
23. Step forward = prec.
1793. [Johnson], Consid. Coal in Scot., 56. The gentlemen who, in this exigency, stepped forward to second the efforts of the Magistrates.
1799. Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., Frenchm. T. (ed. 2), I. 300. His comrade, stepping forward, remonstrated with some warmth.
1802. C. James, Milit. Dict., To stop forth or forward, to take an active part in any thing. Thus, when the circle was formed, the grenadiers stepped forward to beg off their comrade.
1845. Gladstone, Corr. Ch. & Relig. (1910), I. 349. A rear-rank man steps forward when his front-rank man falls in battle.
1855. Poultry Chron., III. 162. Any one who could step forward in this time of no reports with a few facts, would be a public benefactor.
† b. To present oneself as the champion of a woman’s reputation (with reference to duelling).
1796–7. Jane Austen, Pride & Prej., xlvii. Could he expect that her friends would not step forward? Ibid. Lydia has no brothers to step forward.
c. Wrestling = Step in, 24 c.
1898. Encycl. Sport, II. 547/2. (Wrestling) The hype.—After securing a tight grip, step forward with the left leg about a quarter of a circle [etc.].
24. Step in. a. To come or go indoors; to enter a house or apartment casually or for a short visit. Also, to enter a boat, vehicle, etc.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Judg. iv. 21. Seo wifman … stop inn diʓollice.
1534. Tindale, John v. 4. Whosoever then fyrst after the steringe of the water, stepped in, was made whoale.
1622. Fletcher, Span. Cur., IV. vi. ’Pray ye let’s step in, and see a friend of mine.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 19 Aug. 1641. As we returned, we stepped in to see the Spin-house.
1785. Mrs. Inchbald, I’ll tell you what, I. i. (1787), 11. Do step in and take your chocolate with her.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Ella of Gar., xi. 138. The little boat pushed off … the three boatmen … having waved their bonnets and cheered before they stept in, in honour of the spectators.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. V. viii. Such Deputation is on the point of setting out,—when lo, his Majesty himself, attended only by his two Brothers, steps in.
1898. J. A. Gibbs, Cotswold Village, iii. 50. If he could get you to ‘step in,’ he would offer you gooseberry, ginger, cowslip, and currant wine.
b. To come forward and join in what is going on; to come to close quarters, enter the fray; to intervene in an affair, a dispute, etc. lit. and fig.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, III. iii. (1883), 101. His frende … forthwyth stept in and sayde that he hymself was culpable of the deth of this man.
15[?]. Christ’s Kirk, I. vi. Then Steven cam steppand in with stendis.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov., I. iii. (1867), 7. While I at length debate and beate the bushe, There shall steppe in other men, and catch the burdes.
1604. Shaks., Oth., II. iii. 229. This Gentleman Steppes in to Cassio, and entreats his pause.
1657. Billingsly, Brachy-Martyrol., II. i. 150. While they for the crown contended, In step’d the Romans, so the quarrel ended.
1702. Addison, Dial. Medals, i. (1726), 30. It is here therefore … that the old Poets step in to the assistance of the Medallist.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), IV. 230. Just when, by long labour, the weasel … had removed the board, the monkey stept in, and … fastened it again in its place.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. vi. 497. Certain Bishops and other chief men stepped in to preserve peace. Ibid. (1877), (ed. 3), II. ix. 497. The three able statesmen who are represented as stepping in [edd. 1, 2 intervening] between him and his dangerous vassal.
c. In Wrestling, to bring one’s leg round the opponent’s. In Cricket, of a batsman: To advance a step to meet a ball.
1714. Parkyns, Inn-Play (ed. 2), 55. Step in with your left Leg the inside of his Right. Ibid., 56. At the same time he steps in with his other Leg to turn you.
1837. New Sporting Mag., XI. 197. Stepping in to meet the ball…. In stepping in the hitter must get well over the ball.
1862. Pycroft, Cricket Tutor, 35. As to forward play, with an over-pitched ball every first-rate player knows how to step in.
25. Step off. a. intr. To take one or more steps down and away from a higher level.
1833. T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., II. i. He [a would-be visitor at a house] stepped off, and turning down Grosvenor Street [etc.].
b. Mil. To begin to march at a prescribed pace.
1802. C. James, Milit. Dict., To step off,… to take a prescribed pace from a halted position, in ordinary or quick time, in conformity to some given word of command or signal…. In stepping off to music,… the word of command is the signal to lift up the left foot.
c. trans. To mark off by successive equal movements of a leg of the compasses. Cf. 26 d.
1895. Eleanor Rowe, Chip-carving, 21. Divide the circle into three equal sectors, by stepping off the radius six times upon the circumference and joining the alternate divisions in the centre x.
26. Step out. a. intr. (Cf. sense 3.) To go or come out from a place, usually for a short distance or for a short time; esp. to leave the house, go out of doors. Also, to leave a boat or vehicle. Also, to move one or more paces away from one’s position.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, cxxxiii. 494. He stepte out aparte to behold the batayle.
1576. Gascoigne, Kenelworth Castle, Wks. 1910, II. 91. Sibilla being placed in an arbor … did step out and pronounced as foloweth.
c. 1730. Swift, Direct. Serv., General Rules. When your master … wants a servant who happens to be abroad, your answer must be, that he had but just that minute stept out.
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1754), II. 4. Sir Charles, stepping out, brought in with him Miss Jervois.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xiv. ‘Never mind,’ said the one-eyed man, calling after the girl as she left the room. ‘I’ll step out by and by, Mary.’
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, II. viii. The first ball of the over Jack steps out and meets, swiping with all his force.
1880. Mrs. R. O’Reilly, Sussex Stories, I. 276. Mother’s stepped out, and I’m alone up here.
fig. 1602. trans. Guarini’s Pastor Fido, IV. ii. K 4 b. At each of Siluioes actes My soule stept out, push’t on with all her will.
b. Mil. To lengthen the pace in marching.
1802. C. James, Milit. Dict., To step out, to lengthen your pace.
1833. Reg. Instr. Cavalry, I. 17. On the word Step out, the recruit must be taught to lengthen his step to 33 inches.
c. To walk with a vigorous step or stride. Also transf. of a ship.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXIII. 214/1. The truly bred Suffolk horses are active in their walk … They step out well.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xxx. Jack or Donald marches away to glory … stepping out briskly to the tune of ‘The Girl I left behind me.’
1859. Jephson, Brittany, ix. 149. I therefore stepped out hard, and at length … reached a town.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Step out, to move along simultaneously and cheerfully with a tackle-fall, &c.
1884. ‘H. Collingwood,’ Under Meteor Flag, 250. It was … the weather in which the little ‘Vigilant’ stepped out to the greatest advantage.
d. trans. Cf. step off 25 c.
1895. Eleanor Rowe, Chip-carving, 68. Divide the circumference into six parts by stepping out the radius six times round the circumference.
27. Step together. † a. Of two or more persons: To meet or engage in conflict. Obs. b. Of a pair of horses: To be well matched in pace and action. Also fig. of persons, to be in sympathy.
c. 1205. Lay., 28408. Heo to-gadere stopen and sturnliche fuhten.
1866. ‘Annie Thomas,’ Walter Goring, I. i. 5. They stepped together well in fact, and so defied censure, after the manner of pig-headed people.
1880. Miss Braddon, Just as I am, xxi. ‘How well Morton and Fan step together!’ said Beville, speaking of the dancers as if they were horses.
28. Step up. a. intr. To go up from a lower position to a higher; to mount, ascend (also fig.); spec. to go up by treading on a step or stairway. Also, in later use, to go a short distance, or pay a short visit, to a place which is, or is regarded as, higher.
a. 1000. Riddles, xxii. 19. Hy stopan up on oþerne.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 713. & mid tet ilke step up, & steah to þe steorren.
a. 1240. Lofsong, in O. E. Hom., I. 207. His up ariste do me stepen uwward in heie and holi þeawes.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 1437. Sum stepis vp on sties to þe stane wallis.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 351. To this souerayne Citie þat yet was olofte, Jason aioynid and his iust fferis, Steppit vp to a streite streght on his gate.
1758. Jortin, Erasmus, I. 35. He often stepped up to Town.
b. To mount a pulpit, rostrum, or the like.
1535. Coverdale, Acts v. 20. Steppe vp and speake in the temple to the people.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 8 Nov. 1644. After him stepp’d up a child of 8 or 9 years old who pronounced an oration. Ibid., 4 Dec. 1653. Going this day to our Church I was surpriz’d to see a tradesman, a mechanic, step up.
c. To come forward for some purpose; to leave one’s place and come close to (a person).
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 6. He … suddenly stept up to him, and … laid him dead at his feete.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 88. One of our men stepped up to the fellow.
1764. in R. S. Hawker’s Footpr. Far Cornw. (1870), 62. I made up my mind to … step up and ask his name right out.
1840. Thackeray, Barber Cox, Jan. ‘A mighty wet day, sir,’ says I to Mr. Hock, stepping up and making my bow.
† d. fig. To arise, come suddenly into prominence.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist., Socrates, II. xxviii. 279. At Antioche in Syria there stept vp an other hereticke.
1610. Knolles, Hist. Turks, Induct. to Rdr. There stept vp among the Turks in Bythinia one Osman or Othoman.
e. Wrestling. To bring one’s leg up (between the opponent’s legs).
1714. Parkyns, Inn-Play (ed. 2), 51. Step up with your left Leg betwixt his Legs.
f. trans. To bank up in steps.
1901. S. B. Miles, in Geogr. Jrnl. (R.G.S.), XVIII. 480. The terraces being stepped up with revetments wherever the natural features of the ground had not availed, to maintain the earth in position.
g. Elecir. To increase the voltage of (a current) by means of a transformer. Hence step-up used attrib. or as adj. designating a transformer that does this.
1893. Sloane, Electr. Dict., Step-up adj., the reverse of step-down.
1902. S. Sheldon & H. Mason, Altern.-Current Machines, 154. The autotransformer is used to step-up the voltage … to 500 volts.
1912. Nature, 21 Nov., 346/1. One method to obtain this is to step up by means of an E.H.T. transformer.
