Obs. Also 3 steowien. [Early ME. steowi, stewe (the compound wiðstewe occurs c. 1175 Lamb. Hom., 15), perh. repr. OE. *steowan:—WGer. *stawwjan (3 sing. *stawiþ), whence MLG., MHG. stöuwen, stauwen to check, restrain, hinder, mod.G. stauen to dam up.] trans. To check, restrain.
c. 1205. Lay., 6266. And he sette stronge lawen to steowien his folke.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 374. Stille beo þu þenne & stew swuche wordes. Ibid., 658. Meistre ham swa þt ha beon mid alle istewet & stille. Ibid., 1529. Stew þe, & stille þine wordes.
c. 1250. Prayer to our Lady, 34, in O. E. Misc., 193. Moder ful of milce … læte me steowi mi flesc.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 1489. Thay … alle stewede wyth strenghe, that stode theme agaynes.
c. 1400. Sege Jerus., 48/841 (E.E.T.S.). Waspasian stynteþ of þe stour, steweþ his burnes, Þat wer for-beten & bled.
