Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 1 stefn, stæfn, stemn, 2 steffne (Ormin), 3 stefne, stevne, stevone, 2–4 stephne, 3–5 stevene, 4 steovene, 4–6 stevyn, (4 Sc. stewyn(e, stewin, 6 Sc. stevyne), 5–6 stevin, (5 stevenne, 6 steeven), 6–7 steaven, 8–9 dial. stevvon, 2– steven. [OE. stefn, stemn fem. corresponds to OFris. stifne, OS. stemna, also stemnia (MLG. stemne, stevene), MDu. stemme (mod.Du. stem), OHG. stimna, stimma (MHG., mod.G. stimme), Goth. stibna; not in ON. (the Sw. stämma, Da. stemme are prob. from LG.). It is uncertain whether the Teut. root is *stem- or *steƀ-.]
1. = VOICE in various applications. In mod. dial. use chiefly: A loud voice (cf. 5).
a. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., IV. xxvi. [xxv.] (1890), 354. Ond swa swa he cuþre stefne wæs to me sprecende: Wel ðu dest, cwæð he, þæt [etc.].
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. xxvii. 22. Witodlice seo stemn ys Iacobes stefn.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 656. Þa stod seo kyning up to foren ealle his ðægna & cwæd luddor stefne Ðancod wurð hit [etc.].
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 45. Þa onswerede him drihten mildere steuene, Aris nu paul aris.
c. 1200. Ormin, 10680. & tær wass herrd an steffne anan.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 355. After ðis dede a steuone cam, ‘ðu, nu, quor art, adam, adam?’
a. 1300. Havelok, 1275. Þanne she hauede herd the steuene Of þe angel ut of heuene, She was so fele siþes bliþe, Þat [etc.].
c. 1300. Leg. Gregory (Schulz), 293. Þat child þan bigan to scriche Wiþ steuen, as it were a grome.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2008. Bi vch kok þat crue, he knwe wel þe steuen.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxviii. (Margaret), 635. As þe puple herd þis stewine And þe thonir þat hydwis was, Þai fel flatlingis on þare face.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 2328. Sche cryeth ‘systyr’ with ful loude a steuene.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 302. And so a steven comme and tolde þe Emperour þat [etc.].
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. iii. 54. And strekand wp my handis towart hevin, Myne orisone I maid with devoit stevin.
1575. Laneham, Lett. (1871), 41. A doouty Dwarf … With steeuen full stoout amids all the preas, Said ‘hail, syr king.’
1768. Ross, Helenore, III. 113. Quo Jean, my steven, sir, is blunted sair, An’ singing frae ine frighted all wi’ care.
1819. R. Gall, Poems, 93. Then could her Sangsters loud their steven raise.
1865. W. S. Banks, Provinc. Words Wakefield, s.v., Thah’s a rare stevven, lad.
a. 1886. G. E. Mackay, Love Lett. Violinist (1895), 197. He … lifted up his steven To keep the bulwarks of his faith secure.
† b. With one steven, with one voice, in accord.
c. 1320. R. Brunne, Medit., 382. For ȝow we preyd alle with o steuene.
a. 1450. Le Morte Arth., 2584. All they sayd with one steuen: ‘Lordyngis, how longe wolle ye clyde?’
† c. Voice in petition; cry, petition, prayer. Obs.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 43. On diepe wosiðes ich clupe to þe hlouerd, hlouerd her mine stefne.
c. 1275. Anthem St. Thomas, 8, in O. E. Misc., 90. Haly thomas … Vre stephne vnderstonde.
13[?]. K. Alis., 6846. For, byhold, up thy steovene Ys y-herd into the heovene.
a. 1400. Pistill of Susan, 268. Lord, herteliche tak hede, and herkne my steuene So Fre.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., ii. 175. Abell. God that shope both erth and heuen, I pray to the thou here my steven.
1589. Lodge, Scillaes Metam., etc. E 2. Father of light … Bring to effect this my desired steauen.
† d. Used for: Right of speaking. Obs.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 83. Mon hefde uorloren efre stephne bi-uore gode.
† 2. Speech, speaking; language, tongue. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sqr.’s T., 150. Ther is no fowel þat fleeth vnder heuene That she ne shal wel vnderstonde his steuene.
14[?]. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems, 245. ‘Superbia’ ys the most prinsipall [sin], ‘pryde pertly’ in englysshe steven.
† 3. Fame, report. Obs.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1723. Þat swych a voys was of hym and a steuene Thorugh-out þe world of honour and largesse.
† 4. Sound, noise (of singing, music, laughter). Obs.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 1125. Al songe to loue þat gay Iuelle, Þe steuen moȝt stryke þurȝ þe vrþe to helle.
c. 1369. Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 307. Some of hem [birds] songe lowe Some hygh and al of one accorde … Was neuer herde so swete a steuen.
c. 1400. Sowdone Bab., 2258. Dame Floripe lough with loude steven.
a. 1460. Play Sacrament, 80. Now mynstrell blow up wt a mery stevyn.
5. Outcry, noise, tumult, din.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1402. Sturne [MS. sturnen] trumpen strake steuen in halle.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1219. The thundyr rorede with a gresely steuene.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxi. 69. Pitt obscure, Quhair youlis ar hard with horreble stevin.
1555. Phaër, Æneid, III. (1558), G j b. And from the skyes the lightning fyers do flashe wt grisly steauen.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Sept., 224. And had not Roffy renne to the steuen [gloss Noyse], Lowder had be slaine.
a. 1586. Maitland, in Satir. Poems Reform., xxxvii. 18. As furious fluidis wt gritter force ay flowis, And starkar stevin, quhene stoppit ar þe stremis.
1625. Lisle, Du Bartas, Noe, 25. Before some thunder-steaven For warrant of his act gave oracle from Heaven.
1826. Hogg, Q. Hynde, VI. Poems (1865), 262. All nature roar’d in one dire steven; Heaven cried to earth, and earth to heaven.
1876. Whitby Gloss., s.v., Your clock strikes with a desperate stevvon.
¶ 6. Used by Middleton with obscure application. [Prob. by some misunderstanding.]
1597. Middleton, Wisd. Par., v. 17–20 G 2 b. His shield is victories immortall steauen. Ibid., vii. 29–30 K 2. [Wisdom] Guilding her selfe with her selfe-changing steau’n. Ibid., xviii. 14–16 Y 3 b. And brought thy precept, as a burning steauen, Reaching from heauen to earth, from earth to heauen.
