Obs. Forms: 1 stefn (?), 4 stevin, steven(e, 5 steyvyne, Sc. stewyn. [Late OE. stefn (pl. stefna) a. ON. stefna, f. stefna to fix a time, summon: see STEVEN v.1 (sense 3).] A citation, summons; bidding, command.

1

c. 1100.  O. E. Chron. (MS. D.), an. 1052. Ʒeræddon þa þat man sealde ʓislas betweonan, & setton stefna ut to Lundene, & man bead þa folce [etc.].

2

13[?].  Gosp. Nicod., 162. Þe men þat wight and willy ware said to þi steuin we stand.

3

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 360. Now Noe neuer stystez [margin ? styntez] … Er al wer stawed & stoken, as þe steuen wolde. Ibid., B. 463. [The raven sent out from the ark] Fallez on þe foule flesch … & sone ȝederly for-ȝete ȝister-day steuen.

4

a. 1400.  Isumbras, 299. And alle salle bowe hir to fote and hande, And noghte withstande hir stevene.

5

c. 1440.  York Myst., ix. 6. Thre semely sonnes and a worthy wiffe I haue euer at my steven to stande.

6

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, VII. 232. Grantyt wes fra God in the gret hewyn, Sa ordand he that law suld be thair stewyn.

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