Inflected stirred, stirring. Forms: α. 1 styrian, 2–4 sturie (4 styry), 3–5 sture, 3–8 stire, 4–6 styrre, 4–7 stirre, 5–6 sterre, 4–8 styre, 5–6 styr, 5–7 stur(re, 6–7 stirr, 4– stir. β. 3–7 stere, 4 steore, 4–5 steri(e, Sc. steyr(e, 4–6 ster, (4 inf. stern), 4–7 Sc. steir, 5 stear, steure, 5–6 stier(e, (Sc. steire), 5–9 (chiefly Sc. and north.) steer, 6 steere, 6–7 steare. γ. 3 storie, 5 storre, 5–6 store, 6 stoure, stowre, stoore. [OE. styrian corresponds to MSw. styra or styria (once; the reading is doubtful), Norw. styrja to make a disturbance (? Da. for-styrre to disturb, influenced by G. verstören):—OTeut type *sturjan, related to *sturi-z masc., a stir, disturbance (ON. styr-r, Norw. styr); the same Teut. root, according to some scholars, appears in *sturmo-z STORM sb. An ablaut-variant *staurjan is believed to be represented in OFris. to-stêra, OS. to-stôrian to destroy (MDu., mod.Du. storen to disturb), OHG. stôrren, stôran (MHG. stæren, LG., mod.G. stören to disturb, whence Sw. störa).
For the phonology of the β forms (chiefly northern), cf. SPEER v., where the northern form is the only one common in literary use, and is therefore adopted as the typical form in the Dictionary.]
I. Transitive senses.
1. To move, set in motion; esp. to give a slight or tremulous movement to; to move to and fro; to shake, agitate.
α. a. 1023. Wulfstan, Hom., xlix. (1883), 255. Ic mine hearpan ʓenam and mine strengas styrian ongan.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 520. Storm stireð al ðe se.
a. 1400. King & Hermit, 477. The frere gaff hym a bow in hond…. He myȝt oneth styre þe streng.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 6. Þe watyr in þe se is styred wyth þe wynde.
1536. Stories & Proph. Scripture, M j. The earthe hath bene styrred and hath quaked.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. ii. 4. When a thing lies still, unlesse somewhat els stirre it, it will lye still for ever.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, III. xxx. The shrill sea-wind, whose breath idly stirred My hair.
1847. G. P. R. James, Convict, iv. A brisk gale stirring the air.
1887. F. Francis, Jr. Saddle & Mocassin, 123. ‘Get up, or I’ll beat the stuffing out of you!’ he says mildly, stirring the reins at the same time.
β. c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, 817. Euerych ayre other stereth More and more and speche vpbereth.
c. 1530. Judic. Urines, II. viii. 34. Whan … the humours be moche Agitat and moued and stered in the vessels.
1567. Golding, Ovid’s Met., V. 431. Calliope … with hir thumbe gan steare The quiuering strings.
1615. Chapman, Odyss., XXI. 324. He warm’d and suppl’d it, yet could not stere To any draught, the string [of the bow], with all his Art.
b. To move (a limb or member); chiefly, now almost always, in negative or similar expressions: to make any or the slightest movement with.
To stir one’s stumps: see STUMP sb. † To stir one’s tail (Sc. obs.), to bestir oneself, make a disturbance.
α. c. 1205. Lay., 17434. He … sturede his tunge alse he bede sunge.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 130. Ase brid hwon hit wule vleon stureð his hwingen.
1388. Wyclif, Ps. xxi[i]. 8. Alle men seynge me scorneden me; thei … stiriden the heed.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 96. He garte bynd hym þer so with rapis, þat he myght nowder stur hand nor fute.
1567. Palfreyman, Baldwin’s Mor. Philos., I. li. (1600), 31 b. Socrates … vsed sometime through vehemencie of his communication to shake his hand, and stirre his finger.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. vii. 45. Unable to arise, or foote or hand to styre.
1676. C. Hatton, in H. Corr. (Camden), I. 134. They … soe bruised his arme yt he wase never able to stirr it after.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 369, ¶ 9. The Gods … do not stir their Feet, nor proceed Step by Step.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xx. ‘I will not stir a foot, said the Countess, obstinately. Ibid. (1825), Talism., iii. Thy companion had been slain by thy side,… without thy stirring a finger in his aid.
1887. J. Payn, Holiday Tasks, 65. Sometimes he would sign anything in the most obliging manner, and sometimes refuse to stir a finger.
β. 1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVII. 54. He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde ne stere fote ne handes.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 116. He þat … with spekyng sterys his hondes, he ys fowl, eloquent, and deceyuant.
a. 1572. Knox, Hist. Ref., IV. Wks. 1848, II. 331. Hir Uncles war begyning to steir thair taill [v.r. taills], and to truble the hoill Realme of France.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 412. Auchtorite nor power spreitwall … micht nocht that tyme prevaill quhan Dame Curia began to steir hir taill.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Baron Crts., xv. 104 b. The quhilk partie, sall say, in this maner incontinent, fra the dome be given or he steir his taes, quhere his heill stude.
† c. To move about (something held in or grasped by the hand); to wield (a weapon); to brandish, flourish; to actuate, manage, ply (an instrument or mechanical appliance). Obs.
c. 1205. Lay., 2197. Heo stureden heora wepnan.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 331. Now has Arthure his axe, & þe halme grypez, & sturnely sturez hit aboute.
1575. Gascoigne, Glasse of Govt., Wks. 1910, II. 43. To stir an ore, in every forward boate.
1603. J. Davies (Heref.), Microcosmos, 145. He … left a Sonne … Who being yong, could not yet stirre the sterne.
1607. Earl Stirling, Jul. Cæsar, II. i. S 1. Th’ insolent … Stirre now their tongues, as we did then our swords.
† d. To send forth, utter, cause to be heard (a voice or sound); also, to make (a gesture). Obs.
a. 1000. Boeth. Metr., xiii. 49. Þonne hi ʓeherað hleoðrum bræʓdan oðre fuʓelas, hi heora aʓne stefne styriað.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24101. Mi steuen þat i was wont to stere, Vnnethes moght i self it here.
c. 1614. Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, II. 529. So still he stands, nor voyce nor gesture steirs.
† e. To cause to move along or away; to drive, convey, impel; also fig. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 29546. Cursing … steres his cristendame fro, and liuers him to þe find his foo.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 3709. A shippe, Þat was stird with the storme streght out of warde.
c. 1410. Sir Cleges, 150. Sche hym comforttyd … Hys sorowe away to stere.
1575. Churchyard, Chippes, 93 b. Your dealyngs rash, and wretched reuels rued With sticks did stoer, from hiue the quiet Bees.
f. To move (something) from its place; to shift, displace. Chiefly (now always) with negative or its equivalent (implying ineffectual effort): (to be unable) to move or shift in the slightest degree. ? Now rare or Obs.
α. a. 1000. Boeth. Metr., vii. 25. Swa bioð anra ʓehwæs monna modsefan miclum aweʓede, of hiora stede styrede.
c. 1205. Lay., 17403. Ȝif ȝe hine [sc. a stone] maȝen sturien.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 2832. King Nanters … No miȝt it [sc. the sword] drawe out of þe ston, Ne no gentil man of priis No miȝt it ones stiren.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 274. He layde hond to Martyns body,… but he myght not sture hit by no craft þat he cowthe.
a. 1628. Preston, Breastpl. Faith (1630), 57. If you take other metall than Iron, the Load-stone will not stirre it.
1693. Moxon, Mech. Exerc. (1703), 283. Take away the Centre Rule, but stir not the Wainscot.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 123. A great Block of hard Wood … as big as I had Strength to stir.
1759. Franklin, Ess., Wks. 1840, III. 110. Laying heavy burdens on men’s shoulders, which they themselves would not stir with a single finger.
β. a. 1300. Cursor M., 16568. Þeþen moght þai for na might it stere a fote o strete.
1382. Wyclif, Wisd. iv. 19. He shal … stern hem [Vulg. commovebit; 1388 moue hem] fro the foundemens.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, V. 425. The Cask hall standand … With out harme, nocht sterd of it a stane.
1557. Phaër, Æneid, V. (1558), N j b. Your prises certayn ben, shall no man them from order stere.
g. To rouse or disturb with a push.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. v. 2. His steed … fomed yre, When with the maistring spur he did him roughly stire.
a. 1722. Lisle, Husb. (1757), 323. The rams would keep moving and stirring the ewes all night in the fold.
1891. Kipling, Light that Failed, ix. (1900), 165. Binkie turned over on his back on the hearth-rug, and Dick stirred him with a meditative foot.
2. refl. To move oneself or one’s limbs; to move or walk about; to take bodily exercise; to move from one’s place. (Rarely of inanimate things.) Now rare or Obs.; replaced by the intransitive use (11, 12).
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxv. § 7. Þa stanas hi styredon for þy sweʓe.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 316. He sceal gan & hyne styrian.
13[?]. Cursor M., 5138 (Gött.). He miht noght stir him of þat sted.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VIII. viii. 284. He myȝt not … vnnethe stere hym of his lymmes.
1561. Hollybush, Hom. Apoth., 44 b. Let him walke and steare himself without ceasynge.
1704. F. Fuller, Med. Gymn. (1711), 21. The more a Man stirs himself, the more Animal Spirits are made in the Brain.
1871. B. Taylor, Faust (1875), II. II. iii. 114. Stir yourselves, ye whispering rushes.
3. To agitate with the hand or an implement so as to alter the relative position of the parts of:
a. a liquid, or a soft or semi-liquid mass; esp. to agitate with a more or less circular continuous movement, as with a spoon, so as to mix the particles or promote solution of solid matter; also (rarely) to ‘trouble,’ render turbid. Also with adv., as about, round.
α. c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 76. Styre mid sticcan.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8937. Ilk dai … Þar lighted dun … Angels,… For to stir þe stang.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., XII. 588. Let stire hit wel and aysel mynge into.
1523–34. Fitzherb., Husb., § 44. Put all in-to the sayde panne, and styrre it aboute.
1561. trans. Calvin’s 4 Serm. Idol., i. C j. But what nede we herin to stirre the truth, as yf we shuld bloundre and trouble a water that is pure and clear.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 21. Amplyfying that which the more it is stirred, the more it stinkes.
1640. T. Brugis, Marrow of Physicke, II. 151. Set them off the fire, and with the backe of a Spoone, stirre them.
1769. Mrs. Raffald, Engl. Housekpr. (1778), 205. Boil it and keep stirring it all the while.
1802. Wordsw., Resol. & Indep., xii. He the pond Stirred with his staff, and fixedly did look Upon the muddy water.
1905. R. Bagot, Passport, xxi. 212. Idly stirring her little cup of black coffee.
1915. ‘F. Anstey,’ Percy, 121. To be home in time to stir our Christmas pudding.
β. 1375. in Horstmann, Altengl. Leg. (1878), 138/1. God sente eche day an angel … And to þat tre he wente … Þe water þanne sterede ful son.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 85. Lat þe sethinge be steryd and strenyd to it bycome cleer.
1535. Coverdale, Ezek. xxxii. 12. The catell … shal come nomore vpon the waters: so that nether mans fote ner beastes clawe, shal stere them eny more.
1787. Burns, Holy Fair, xx. Sit round the table,… An’ steer about the toddy.
1877. ‘Saxon’ (Mrs. Trotter), Gallow. Gossip, 222.
| Oh! I think he had yin | |
| Micht a served for a spurtel for steerin his brose, | |
| For I never saw such a confoundable nose. |
(b) To mix (in, together, etc.) by stirring.
c. 1420. Liber Cocorum (1862), 30. Do wyne þerto and venegur gode, Sture hom wele togeder.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 180/1. Take … whyt leade, & stirr it therin. Ibid., 183/1. Then stirr them al together, & let it stand.
c. 1770. Mrs. Glasse, Compl. Confectioner, 17. Stir in the sugar by degrees.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., vi. (1847), 174. More water should then be added, and the whole stirred together.
1915. ‘F. Anstey,’ Percy, 124. The tokens were bound to turn up, as I had stirred them well into the pudding with my own hand.
(c) absol.
1712. Motteux, 2nd Pt. Quix., xii. (1749), III. 9. The more ye stir, the more ’twill stink.
1806. A. Hunter, Culina (ed. 3), 24. Taking care to stir, or shake, only one way.
b. a collection of solid bodies or particles; esp. to poke (buining coals, a fire) so as to promote combustion. † To stir coals (fig.): see COAL sb. 11.
α. c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3580. He … dede ðat calf melten in fir, And stired it al to dust sir.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 725. He stired the coles.
c. 1532. Du Wes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 956. To styrre the fire, tiser.
1765. Museum Rust., IV. 467. The [flax] seed … must be stirred every two or three days.
1888. ‘J. S. Winter,’ Bootle’s Childr., ii. Seizing the poker and stirring the fire vigorously.
β. 1557. Phaër, Æneid, V. (1558), O iij. He steres the sleping brandes, And Troian sacred fyer.
a. 1794. Donocht-Head, 21, in Burns’ Wks. (1809), IV. 176. I’ll steer my fire, I’ll make it bleeze a bonnie flame.
1806. R. Jamieson, Pop. Ballads, I. 348. He steer’d the ingle, and dichtit his beik.
c. soil or earth, as with an agricultural implement; spec. to plow across the furrows made by a former plowing.
α. 1483. Cath. Angl., 365/1. To Styr lande, barectare.
1523–34. Fitzherb., Husb., § 141. He wolde haue his landes plowed, donged, sturred, or sowen.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 125. The Earth had been stirr’d.
1731–3. Tull, Horse-Hoeing Husb., xx. 291. This Sort of Land must not be stirred, i.e. plowed the second time in wet Weather.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 127. There is no mode of stirring the soil, whether by picks, forks, or hoes, which may not be performed with this implement [spade].
β. 1523–34. Fitzherb., Husb., § 16. The rayne shall beate the lande so flat, and bake it so hard to-gyther, that if a drye Maye come, it wyll be to harde to stere in the moneth of June.
1843. Hardy, in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, II. No. 11. 63. The ground for the barley crop … required to be twice … ploughed; once in the back end, and again in spring,—the latter process being termed ‘steering the barley seed.’
4. fig. To move from a fixed or quiet condition; to disturb, trouble, molest; to put into tumult or confusion, to upset. Obs. exc. dial., or as merged in other senses.
α. a. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Mark v. 35. Huætd lengc styres ðu [Vulg. vexas] ðone laruu?
1154. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1140. Þa was al Engle land styred mar þan ær wæs.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 268. Þu nouhst nout sturien ne trublen þine heorte.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xii. 5. If þai stire vs fra stabilnes of thoght.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 4868. That the Gregeis vs not sterre, To take oure toun with arte and scleght.
1599. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., Prol. 83. I will not stirre your patience.
1602. Chettle, Hoffman, I. (1631), B 2. Sweare … to ayd assist me, not to stirre Or contradict me in any enterprise.
c. 1620. Hist. Feuds & Confl. Clans (1818), 31. Angus Macconald, returning out of Ireland, did not stir the pledges [hostages], who were innocent of what was done unto his lands in his absence.
1634. Milton, Comus, 371. I do not think my sister … so unprincipl’d … As that the single want of light and noise … Could stir the constant mood of her calm thoughts.
β. c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 228 (Harl. 1239). He … wende nothyng had hade suche myght A-ȝen his wille that schulde his hert stere.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 829. Studye þou nouȝt þeron ne stere þi wittes.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Gov. Princis (S.T.S.), II. 82. He that all steris and misgovernis.
c. 1480. Henryson, Mor. Fab., Trial Fox, 922. My micht is merciabill, And steiris nane that ar to me prostrait.
c. 1550. Bale, K. Johan (Camden), 33. I pray the,… my pacyens no more stere.
1786. Burns, Twa Dogs, 187. Nae cauld nor hunger e’er can steer them.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xlii. Nane durst steer me when he was in power.
5. To rouse from rest or inaction; to excite to movement or activity.
c. 1200. Ormin, 5845. Þurrh þatt te faderr gaþ þærto & stireþþ itt & waccneþþ.
c. 1550. Battle of Otterburn, iii. in Child, Ballads, III. 295/1. Vpon Grene Lynton they lyghted dowyn, Styrande many a stage.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., I. i. 182. Nay, then tis time to stirre him fro his trance.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 585. The Leopard when he was stirred ranne too and fro distracted.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xxxvi. He’s steered the town to get awa an express to fetch his carriage. Ibid. (1829), Anne of G., xxvi. Follow forth your own … objects, without stirring a nest of hornets.
† b. To excite to activity, to stimulate (a bodily function, ‘humour,’ etc.): also with the person as obj. Obs.
c. 1000. [see STIRRING ppl. a. 3 a].
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 73. Somer tyme ys hoot and drye, and þanne þe rede colere ys steryd.
c. 1491. Chast. Goddes Chyld., 20. The wycked humours ben styred and make the stomocke replete.
1609. [see STIRRING ppl. a. 3 a].
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 235. The Remedy … that kills in one Country, does but only stir a Man in another.
† c. To stir one’s time: to make vigorous use of one’s opportunity. Sc. Obs.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 30. Seing this devissioun amangis the nobilietie of Scotland, they steirit thair tyme and wssit thair weiris the mair scharpelie.
1591. R. Bruce, Serm. Edin., S 7 b. His enemies were aloft, sturring their time, rageing in murther, oppression and bloode.
† 6. refl. To bestir oneself; to be active; to act briskly or energetically; in early use often, to fight valiantly. Obs. (replaced by bestir; see also 14).
α. c. 1205. Lay., 10195. Heo ferde forð rihtes … & stureden heom seoluen.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3663. Þe king adde er among þe scottes ystured him uol wel.
a. 1320. Sir Tristr., 1082. He stird him as a kniȝt.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 139. Good husbandrie lusteth himselfe for to stur.
β. a. 1300. Cursor M., 23757. If we stitli all wil vs ster, crist help sal be us ner.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 515. Stere the, good Adam, and lat ther noon flee.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 64. [He] sa stoutly sterit him amang thame … that thare durst nane cum on him allane.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVIII. xvii. 755. When he was vpon his hors he stered hym fyersly.
γ. 1225. St. Marher., 14. Hwen … he letten me nawt, ne ne storið hamseolf,… ich leade ham … iþe ladliche lake of þe suti sunne.
c. 1275. Lay., 15254. Hahtliche ȝou storieþ.
b. To begin to act; to busy oneself to do something: = 14 b. rare.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 306. He ne der, uor fearlac, sturien him touward sunne.
c. 1425. Eng. Conq. Irel. (1896), 86. None Iresshe-man ne durst hym styrre, wer to begynne.
1870. Burton, Hist. Scot., lv. V. 341. The … French ambassador … stirred himself not only to keep this project alive, but to bring it to a practical conclusion.
7. To move to action, urge, incite, instigate, stimulate. Also formerly in weaker or more general sense: To prompt, induce, persuade.
α. c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past., C. 175. S[u]a sceal æʓhwelc lareow to anre lufan … mid mislicum manungum his hieremonna mod styriʓean.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 130. Þe hwingen þet bereð ham upward, þet beoð gode þeauwes þet heo moten sturien into gode werkes.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., Prol. 154. Som thyng … þat myght styrre þam to gude lyfyng. Ibid., 157. To knaw bat, myght þam stir and lede Til mekenes.
1388. Wyclif, Deut. xxxii. 11. As an egle stirynge his briddis to fle [Vulg. provocans ad volandum pullos suos].
1474. Caxton, Chesse, III. v. (1883), 122. To take away all the thynges that miht styre or meue his men to lecherye.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 8 b. The onely namyng of theim, will stirre honest hartes, to speake well of them.
1595. Shaks., John, II. i. 63. An Ate, stirring him to bloud and strife.
1781. Cowper, Charity, 118. He … Imports what others have invented well, And stirs his own to match them, or excel.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xii. Can ye not stir his mind to any pastimes?
1858. Froude, Hist. Eng., III. xiii. 163. The untruth of the stories by which they had been stirred to rebellion.
1893. Traill, Soc. Eng., Introd. p. xxxii. The Revival of Letters stirred the human mind into more vigorous activity.
β. 1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 5186. Hyt steryþ a man hym self to slo.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., I. 149. Who ever stere men to yvel lyfe.
c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., V. 1679. Men wil wene that thou be ny wood To sle th[is] puple … And lete me scape whiche stered hem alle.
c. 1470. in Som. & Dorset N. & Q. (1905), Sept., 303. [He] provokid and stered his saide Dogge to renne uppon youre saide Bysecher.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VI. i. 102. To ask ansueris Now is the tyme; lo, lo, the God me steris!
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. 1 Pet. i. 3–9. Being prouoked by no merites of ours, but stiered frely of his owne mercye.
1657. in Burton’s Diary (1828), I. 415. I hope, that neither the humour of … unwise people, nor yet … [etc.] shall steer me to give other than such an answer as may be ingenuous and thankful.
† b. To urge with a view to persuasion, try to persuade, exhort, entreat. Obs.
α. c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 41. I conseile, amoneste, and stire my freris.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. vi. 17. Peter stireth tho same men for to haue pacience.
1534. Ld. Berners, Golden Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), P viii. This younge manne,… was importunately stirred by his naturall friendes.
1560. Ingelend, Disob. Child, H j. You hearde that by Sentences auncient and olde He styred his Sonne as he best thought.
β. 1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, I. viii. (Skeat), 1. Eft gan Love to sterne [read steren] me with these wordes.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xlii. 127 (Add. MS.). A man … sterid his sone to gete hym frendes.
1544. S. Fish, Supplic. Hen. VIII., 24. The Holy Ghoste, which moueth & steareth ys euer to mortefye the fleshe.
8. To excite to feeling, emotion or passion; to ‘move,’ affect.
α. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 296. O sihð þet tu isihst, oðer on elpi word þet tu mis-iherest ȝif hit out stureð þe, cwench hit mid teares of watere.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2795. Alas! loue, wo dost þou me, þov sturest al my blod.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. xxi. 10. Whan he had entrid in to Jerusalem, al the cite was stirid, seyinge, who is this? Ibid. (1382), Luke xv. 20. Whanne he was ȝit fer, his fader syȝ him, and he was stirid [1388 stirrid] by mercy.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xiii. 58. A wikked man … kest a brynnand fyrebrand at oure Lord for to stirre him til ire.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 92 b. Anye one that myndeth by hys vtteraunce to stirre the hartes of menne.
1630. R. N., Camden’s Eliz., I. 21. The Bishop of Rome … being now more stirred, commanded Sir Edward Carne … to lay down his Office of Embassadour.
1799. Wordsw., Fountain, 30. My eyes are dim with childish tears, My heart is idly stirred.
1865. Trollope, Belton Est., ix. 99. Words … that really stir the soul, and bring true comfort to the listener.
1889. Jessopp, Coming of Friars, iii. 113. The story of a great man’s life still stirs the heart.
β. c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xvii. (Martha), 321. To compuncione þu [? read þe] suld steyre, þe instance of myn prayer sere.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 4256. Leue ȝe noȝt we be to heȝe ne hauten or will … or sterid to enuy.
1481. Caxton, Godfrey, clx. 235. By thyse wordes were the barons gretely stered and meuyd.
1530. Palsgr., 735/1. Beware thou stere him nat to anger.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, IV. 66. Then Agamemn appeard No whit to yeelde,… or ought with feare was steard.
γ. c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xlvi. 181 (Harl. MS.). Whenne Ionathas sawe hir, he was I-storid to an vnlawfull maner of love.
b. To affect with strong emotion; to move strongly (a person, his spirit, ‘blood,’ etc.).
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, ii. 15. That sore mouyd and styryd his noble and hyghe corage.
c. 1610. Beaum. & Fl., Maid’s Trag., I. i. The musicke must be shrill and all confus’d That stirs my blood.
1822. Byron, Juan, VIII. lv. So was his blood sirr’d while he found resistance.
1905. R. Bagot, Passport, xxvi. 279. The news of Sor Beppe’s dismissal from the office of fattore had stirred public opinion in and around Montefiano to its depths.
9. To excite, occasion.
a. To excite or provoke (passion); to prompt, evoke or occasion (anger, hatred, affection, suspicion, also † laughter, fear, etc.); formerly in wider use, † to occasion (an event, mental or bodily condition).
α. c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 298. Ne dranc he wines drenc, ne nan ðæra wætena þe druncennysse styriað.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 198. Þeo … þet beoð of muchel speche ȝelpeð,… gabbeð,… sturieð leihtres.
c. 1430. in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems, 197. To stire mi wraþþe þou wolt a-saye.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 158. Forto styre your deuocyon.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Conflare inuidiam, inimicitias, odium, to stire or procure enuy, hostilitie, hate.
1580. E. Knight, Trial Truth, 15 b. This part of Scripture may iustly stirre a feare in vs.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 308. Each Tree Load’n with fairest Fruit,… stirr’d in me sudden appetite To pluck and eate.
1760. Lloyd, Actor, 195. There is a fault which stirs the critic’s rage; A want of due attention on the stage.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xxvi. If nothing occurs to stir the rage of this vindictive madman, I am sure of victory.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, IV. 11. Blissful palpitations in the blood, Stirring a sudden transport rose and fell.
1871. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 5. Antipathy against Voltaire to a degree that … must now and then have even stirred a kind of reacting sympathy.
β. 1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, V. i. (1554), 114. Husbandes … had in maner a suspeccion Stiered by the serpent of false gelousye Toward Spurina.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert, 6627. Þat sight sterid his deuocioun.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, I. x. 7. Within hir banis grene The hote fyir of luif to kendle and steir.
a. 1586. Sidney, Astr. & Stella, xxv. Vertue … with vertuous care to ster Loue of herselfe, tooke Stella’s shape.
γ. 1558. W. Forrest, Grysilde Seconde (Roxb.), 72. Synne, sore of Kyngis, stoorthe Goddys malediction.
† b. To instigate, set going, set on foot (strife, commotion, etc.). Obs.: cf. stir up 16 e.
α. a. 1023. Wulfstan, Hom., xviii. (1883), 106. Saca and wraca he styrede ʓelome.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 113. He ne flit mid cheste ne he sake ne sturað.
1521. Fisher, Serm. agst. Luther, i. Wks. (1876), 312. In lyke maner … hathe rysen many a tyme some blacke clowde of heresy, & stered suche a tempest … that [etc.].
1563–83. Foxe, A. & M., 248/2. The French king … stirred warre in Normandy.
c. 1610. Women Saints, 150. So that they stirre a greater tumult than euer the people had donne before.
1669. Dryden, Tyr. Love, III. i. (1670), 23. The Souldiers love her Brother’s memory; And for her sake some Mutiny will stir.
β. 1390. Gower, Conf., I. 284. So that thou miht the betre lere What mischief that this vice stereth.
1426. Audelay, Poems, 18. That steren stryf and wrath.
10. To bring into notice or debate; to move, raise, moot (a subject or question). Now rare.
α. Beowulf, 873. Secʓ eft onʓan sið Beowulfes snyttrum styrian.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 174. Many envious tale is stered, Wher that it mai noght ben ansuered.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 55. To stirre doutablys questions, honestly to aske hem, and discretly answore hem.
1444. Rolls of Parlt., V. 122/1. Yef ther be eny mater or maters stirred, desired or moeved bi the Baillifs.
1580. Spenser, Three Proper Lett., A iij. Little newes is here stirred.
1607–12. Bacon, Ess., Of Great Place (Arb.), 286. Preserve the rightes of thie place, but stirre not questions of Iurisdiccion.
a. 1676. Hale, Hist. Common Law, iii. (1713), 49. Many Cases … wherein the Question was not stirred.
1785. Paley, Mor. Philos., VI. viii. (1818), II. 246. That … a doubt once decided may be stirred no more.
1831. Scott, Cast. Dang., iv. ‘I shall not stir the question,’ said the minstrel.
1890. C. Martyn, W. Phillips, Agitator, 202. To the petition he stirred,… the Committee returned a brutal denial.
β. c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., III. pr. xii. (1868), 106. But na-þeles yif I stered resouns þat ne ben nat taken fro wiþ oute þe compas of þe þinge of whiche we treten.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 145. Who that … moued or stered the matter firste vnto your Lordeship, counsailed you neither for your worship nor profite.
† b. To bring forward as an example, to instance.
1340. Ayenb., 226. To loki þet stat of wodewehod one ssel sterie þe uorbisne of þe turle.
II. Intransitive senses. (See also 3 a (c).)
† 11. To move (continuously, or in general sense); to be in motion; spec. to move as a living being. (Cf. the reflexive sense 2.) Obs.
α. a. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. i. 26. Ealle þa creopende, þe stirað on eorðan.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 361. Cleopest þeo þinges godes, þt nowðer sturien ne mahen ne steoren ham seoluen.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 422. Water þet ne stureð nout readliche stinkeð.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 403. By forty dayez wern faren, on folde no flesch styryed.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 98. Fyssh of þe water, þat gooþ on foure feet, & þat stirrys vpon wombe.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, E j. He … that hath an ore stirringe in other mens boates.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Assurance, vi. While rocks stand, And rivers stirre.
β. c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, 567. And here with alle I gan to stere And he me in his fete to bere.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 75. Thingis that ar corporale in this erde steris nocht … with the moving of it.
1538. Bale, God’s Promises, II. (facs.), B j b. I wyll destroye … all that on earthe do stere.
1587. Turberv., Trag. T., vi. 87 b. The winde so slender was To cause the ship to steare.
† b. To move or pass from one place to another; to come or go. Obs.
Some of the quots., esp. in β, may belong to STEER v.1 4.
α. a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 796. Ȝe alles to strif beoð isturet hidere.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3252. Qua him sagh moght vnderstand He stird was of a riche land.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 959. Iason … Busket to the bank and the bote tok, Stird ouer the streame streght to þe lond.
1581. W. S., Compend. or Briefe Exam., 8. Wee might sturre from on place to an other.
β. a. 1300. Cursor M., 4959. Nour-quider mai we stere.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 145. Þis man steryd ynto anoþyr howse.
c. 1470. Rauf Coilȝear, 12. Mony stout man steiris Of town with the King.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XII. viii. 12. Turnus … Persauyt thame thus sterand throw the plane.
γ. 1513. Douglas, Æneis, I. i. 65. Thair stewinnis stowrand fast throw the salt fame.
a. 1568. Wyf Auchtermuchty, ix. in Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Club), 344. Than to the kyrn that he did stoure.
12. To pass from rest to motion, to begin to move; to make a slight movement, to move lightly (esp. to and fro); to make any movement, to move at all or in the least (chiefly with negative); to leave one’s place, to budge; not to remain still; occas. to show signs of life or consciousness (after sleep or a faint).
α. c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xi. 7. Ʒerd vel puulsper from uinde styrende vel sceæcende.
a. 1000. Ælfric, Josh. x. 12. Ne stira þu sunne of þam stede.
c. 1200. Ormin, 2810. Min child tatt i min wambe liþ … bigann … To stirenn & to buttenn.
c. 1205. Lay., 17421. Beoð alle stille Þæt na man þer ne sturie.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 18. Stille lið ðe leun, ne stireð he nout of slepe Til [etc.].
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XX. 102. Lered ne lewed he let no man stonde, That he hitte euene þat euere stired after.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), iv. 12. Men may see þare þe erthe of þe toumbe … stirre and moue, as þer ware a qwikke thing under.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. xiv. 53. I wold that … they stere not tyll ye and your knyghtes haue foughte with hem longe.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. 115 b. The eares must bee shorte, standing vpright, and stirring.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 120. Diuers … gentlemen … who neuer stirre from the side of the captaine Generall.
1602. Chettle, Hoffman, IV. (1631), H 2. Art sure she is a sleepe!… She stirs not, shee is fast. Ibid., H 2 b. She stirs, and when she wakes obserue me well.
1604. Shaks., Ham., I. i. 10. Barn. Haue you had quiet Guard? Fran. Not a Mouse stirring.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 38. Whether they snore, or stir much in their sleepe.
1667. Dryden & Dk. Newcastle, Sir M. Mar-all, III. i. [Lady has fainted away] Rose. Open her Mouth with a Dagger…. 2 Wom. She stirs, she revives, merciful to us all.
1704. Cibber, Careless Husb., III. 35. Nay, you shan’t stir a step.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 112, ¶ 5. Nobody presumes to stir till Sir Roger is gone out of the Church.
1717. Prior, Alma, III. 116. From every leaf that stirs, she flies.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. i. 125. Life … begins in contemplation of law as soon as an infant is able to stir in the mother’s womb.
1829. Southey, All for Love, VII. xlviii. He stirr’d not from his station.
1855. Tennyson, Maud, I. XXI. iii. All night has the casement jessamine stirr’d To the dancers dancing in tune.
1863. Mrs. H. Wood, Verner’s Pride, xlv. I was so took aback … that I could neither stir nor speak.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, x. She … stood for an instant … in silent, prayerful thought. Glynn waited till she stirred.
β. c. 1220. Bestiary, 404. Ne stereð ȝe noȝt of ðe stede.
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., 604. Þer water is most deope, Þe lesse þer þen steres he.
c. 1430. Chev. Assigne, 147. They stoden alle stylle for stere þey ne durste.
1567. Golding, Ovid’s Met., V. 116. Downe he fell and could not after steare.
1616. J. Lane, Contn. Sqr.’s T., VII. 480. While tonges well much maie talke, but no hand steare.
1786. Har’st Rig, xiv. They vow they’ll never steer Sae lang’s he has a cut to shear, But bide wi’ him till fields are clear.
γ. 14[?]. Guy Warw., 3869. Loke, ye store not of þat stedde.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 3108. Þe clothe þat honged vpone hurre tombe þere þo Meue ofte & store wondere fast.
c. 1450. Erle of Tolous, 755. He durst not store, nor make no mone, To make the lady afryght.
b. To go out (from a house or place of abode); usually with † abroad, † forth, out: almost always with negative. Rarely of inanimate things.
α. 1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 86 b. The Frog saith Aristotle liueth quietly all the time of cold weather, and neuer stirreth abrode.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., II. ii. 38. Cæs. What say the Augurers? Ser. They would not haue you to stirre forth to day.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 59. Unoffensive books must not stirre forth without a visible jaylor in thir title.
1713. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 4 April. I came home at seven, and have never stirred out.
1743. Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, 217. [We] were told by the Captain, we must not stir out of the Ship.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xii. He dare not stir far from his own Forest of Ardennes.
1827. Pusey, in Liddon, Life (1893), I. vi. 118. These [MSS.] never stir out of the walls of the Bodleian.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Life in Wilds, iii. 33. They could not stir till they had provision for their journey.
γ. a. 1500[?]. Chester Pl., Purif., 91. Yet storred I not out of this place.
† c. Of a voice: To sound. (Cf. 1 d.) Obs.
c. 1205. Lay., 28161. Þa umbe stunde stefne þer sturede.
d. Of a color: To move, be affected.
1792. Trans. Soc. Arts, X. 199. This manufacture improves every time it is washed; and the colours never stir by washing.
e. To show signs of growth; to bud. rare–1.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXVII. 457/1. A northern aspect is thought best, as the vines do not stir so soon in spring.
f. fig. To begin to show signs of ‘life’ or activity (as an intellectual movement or the like).
1873–1909. [implied in STIRRING vbl. sb. 2 d].
13. To move about in a place, to ‘be about’; chiefly in pres. pple. (often spec. = out of bed, up and about).
α. c. 1205. Lay., 23756. Þat hit dæi wes amarȝen duȝeðe gunne sturien [c. 1275 gan to storie].
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 692. But boden go to bedde with myschaunce, If ony wight was sterynge ony where.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxi. 213. They coude se no man sterynge within the castell.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., I. ii. 52. Cre. Hector was gone but Hellen was not vp. Pan. E’ene so; Hector was stirring early.
1619. in Foster, Eng. Factories India (1906), 99. If any stronge drinke be stirringe.
1702. Steele, Funeral, II. 17. How often must I tell you my Lord is not stirring: His Lordship has not Slept well.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. v. 176. Had any ships been stirring in these seas … we must have met with them.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, xiii. Notwithstanding there are now no Welsh knaves stirring, yet the marches are never free from robbers.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xviii. When no one in the house was stirring, and the lights were all extinguished.
1884. Henley & Stevenson, Adm. Guinea, IV. i. (1892), 244. Arethusa (listening). St! my father stirring in his room!
γ. c. 1275. [see α].
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 114. When he had contynued a whyle in the haven, and sawe noo man stourynge.
b. transf. To be in circulation, be current; chiefly in pres. pple. Now somewhat rare: chiefly of news (cf. c).
1423. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 257/2. Be ther never so muche white moneye forged, that shall be but litell the more sturryngge among the poeple.
1608. Bp. Hall, Charact., II. 79. No newes can stir but by his doore.
1634. W. Tirwhyt, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. I.), 187. To let you know what newes is stirring.
1691. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), III. 370. [The] University very empty and dead; and money but little stirring.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 107, ¶ 5. Asking … whether there was any News stirring?
c. 1850. Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.), 646. He asked the host if there were any news stirring.
c. To go on, happen, take place; chiefly in pres. pple. = going on, ‘on foot.’
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 35. Euery thyng that stereth by hym, or that he seeth or hereth, he iudgeth to be a reuelacyon.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. i. 99. No ill luck stirring but what lights a my shoulders.
1684. Otway, Atheist, I. i. What Sins are stirring in this noble metropolis.
1722. De Foe, Plague, 141. There’s no Trade stirs now.
1882. Pebody, Engl. Journalism, xx. 152. Telegrams from every part of the world where there is anything stirring that is of the slightest interest to Englishmen.
14. To move briskly or energetically; to be on the move, be active, ‘look alive,’ bestir oneself, Cf. the refl. use 6.
α. c. 1205. Lay., 9334. He … sturede i þon compe al se hit þe king weore.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 152. Vor þui mine leoue sustren, bi nihte, ase þe niht fuel þet ancre is to iefned, beoð ʓeorne sturiinde.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 169. Make maide to be clenly,… and teach hir to stirre, when hir mistresse doth speake.
1602. Middleton, Blurt, Master-Constable, I. ii. 3. Trivia, Simperina, stir, stir, stir: one of you open the casements.
1608. Shaks., Per., II. i. 16. Looke how thou stirr’st now!
1830. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), I. 301. Every free man in the civilized world is put on his defence, and called upon to be stirring for the preservation of all that he may wish to keep.
1841. Thackeray, Gt. Hoggarty Diam., xii. Her husband stirred and bustled about until the requisite leave was obtained.
1849. W. S. Mayo, Kaloolah, vi. (1850), 57. Let’s stir round and do something.
1884. W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 34. Ina, your heart is low, as one will be Who sits down in a mist instead of stirring To keep the blood warm.
β. c. 1400. Gamelyn, 519 (Corpus MS.). Stere [v.rr. Bi-, Bystere] good adam and late þer none flee.
c. 1400. Beryn, 548. So she sterith aboule this house in a wood rese.
c. 1400. Ragman Roll, 134, in Hazl., E. E. P. (1864), I. 75. Joly and lyght is your complexicion, That steryn ay, and kunne nat stonde still.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, V. 838. The hardy Scottis so steryt in that sted.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 559. Wondir sternly thai steir on thair stent stedis.
1538. Starkey, England (1878), 82. So in our commynalty, certayn partys ther be wych euer be mouyng and sterryng.
γ. c. 1275. Lay., 9334. He … storede in þan fihte.
b. fig. To be active or occupied about something; to move or bestir oneself in a matter, to begin to act.
α. c. 1205. Lay., 18845. On hir he scal streonen þat scal wide sturien.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4047. Now wete yche … þat stares vpon stories, & stirs in bokys, Þat [etc.].
1618. in Foster, Eng. Factories India (1906), 19. If it bee prooved Mogolls goods, and that the king stirr in yt, I know this people.
1620. [G. Brydges], Horæ Subs., 304. A mans nature is to stirre more for the recouery of a good, which they once enioyed, then for the acquisition of what they are ignorant of.
1622. Callis, Stat. Sewers (1647), 152. Surely this point hath heretofore been much stirred in, and not without some cause.
1653. W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, 183. Neither is it safe for those Rebels to stirr when she [i.e., the Moon] is weak.
1709. Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), II. 175. The writer … was … advis’d … to stir for it.
c. 1721. Marq. Tullibardine, in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 126. I pray the capacity of those who are most able to stir about your Majesty’s concerns, be well employed in [etc.].
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xv. The improbability of the young Master of Ravenswood’s finding friends in parliament, capable of stirring in so weighty an affair.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), IV. xviii. 144. While Exeter was in arms, York did not stir, and when York did stir, Exeter had no longer the power of stirring.
β. c. 1480. Henryson, Test. Cress., 469. Fortoun is fikkill, quhen scho beginnis & steiris.
a. 1560. Phaër, Æneid, IX. (1562), Dd ij b. Gods, gods, o countrey gods, in whose protection Troy still steeres.
1647. Ded. Epist. to Earl Pembroke, in Beaum. & Fletcher’s Wks. But directed by the example of some, who once steered in our qualitie … we have presumed to offer to your Selfe, what before was never printed of these Authours.
1891. ‘H. Haliburton,’ Ochil Idylls, 40. At fifty, wi’ a conscience clear, The man that sits, as I do here, Haund-haill, an’ neither slow to steer Nor quick to tire.
c. To make a disturbance, commotion or tumult; to rise in revolt or insurrection, Now rare and merely contextual.
c. 1205. Lay., 10717. In Lundene stureden þa leoden.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, III. 269. To strie strouters þat sterede aȝeine rithis.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., III. i. (S.T.S.), II. 273. Þe kynge of Moab than, Eglon, Had vndyr hym in subieccion Þe folk of Israel fourteyn ȝhere, Qwhil Ayot begouthe to steyr.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W.), IV. iv. (1506), 173. Good werkes that ben done for the loue of god stere put and knocke at the gate of mercy dyuyne.
a. 1500. Lynn Chron., in Six Town Chron. (1911), 185. In this yere the Skots begane to store and the deweke of glossytr was sent to them but he retorned wth out battell.
1570. Levins, Manip., 190/25. To sturre, neutre, tumultuare.
1648. Gage, West Ind., 71. The King … was quiet and peaceable, and stirred not against him.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, li. ‘Is not your nation seditious and turbulent?’ ‘It is not,’ answered Ishmael. ‘We never stir unless we are wronged.’
15. To be roused or excited, as feeling, passion, etc.
a. 1000. Boeth. Metr., xxii. 64. Mid þæm bisʓum þe on breostum styreð.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5052. Joseph beheild þan beniamin, Him stird al his blod wit-in.
1558. Phaër, Æneid, II. D iv b. Sometime when tyryd ben their harts their manful stomacks steres [L. victis redit in præcordia virtus] And down their conquerours they quell.
1575. Churchyard, Chippes, 2 b. Our rage was great,… Our stomackes storde, as we did this beholde.
1577–82. Breton, Toyes of an Idle Head (Grosart), 39/1. And then doo what I can, alas, my Heart beginnes to sturre.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. iii. 190. The blood more stirres To rowze a Lyon, then to start a Hare.
1704. Cibber, Careless Husb., I. i. 10. My Blood stirs at the very thought on’t.
1841. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, lxxxi. His wrath so stirred within him, that he could have struck him dead.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, V. 258. I … felt the blind wildbeast of force … Stir in me as to strike.
III. 16. Stir up.
a. trans. To set in motion, agitate; to push or poke so as to displace, disturb or mix the parts of: cf. 1, 3.
To stir up with a long pole (humorous, with allusion to a wild-beast showman ‘stirring up’ his beasts): to rouse from rest or inaction, to provoke to activity: cf. d, also 5, 7.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 487. Stiue stormus of þe wind stiren vp þe wawus.
1535. Coverdale, Deut. xxxii. 11. As an Aegle stereth vp hir nest, and flotereth ouer hir yonge.
1679. Trials of Green, etc. for Murder of Sir E. Godfrey, 39. I was in the Parlor and stirred up the fire.
1823. ‘Jon Bee,’ Dict. Turf, 166. ‘Stir ’em up with a long pole, as the fellow does with the beestes,’ alludes to the bellowings of these latter.
1816. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 684. Stir up and dress the soil of flowers and shrubs in pots.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., xviii. (1842), 481. It is best … to effect the mixture … by stirring up the mass lightly with a pointed stick or a fork.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, II. ii. Stir him up with a long pole, Jack, and hear him swear like a drunken sailor!
1912. C. Johnston, Why World Laughs, 2. Whenever the dance showed signs of flagging, the policeman stirred them up with a long pole.
† b. To rouse from sleep or rest, to wake up. (Cf. 5.) Obs.
1526. Tindale, Acts xii. 7. He smote Peter on the syde and steryd him uppe.
1533. More, Answ. Poysoned Bk., Wks. 1092/2. He that eateth my fleshe and drynketh my bloude, hath life euerlasting, and I shall stere hym vp in the last day.
1611. Bible, Song Sol. viii. 4. I charge you … that ye stirre not vp, nor awake my loue vntill he please.
1683. Salmon, Doron Med., I. 146. This Fume being once made familiar with the said Animal Spirits, gently awakes, or stirrs them up at any time being sluggish and sloathful.
† c. To ‘raise up,’ call into being. Obs.
1526. Tindale, Rom. ix. 17. Even for thys same purpose haue I stered the uppe [Gr. ἐξήγειρά σε], to shewe my power on the.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, 284. We saye also that god hath dayly stered up & dayly doth sterre vp new prophetes in sundry partes of hys catholyke chyrche.
1535. Coverdale, Deut. xxv. 7. My kynsman refuseth to stere vp [Vulg. suscitare: Luther erwecken] a name vnto his brother in Israel and wyl not marye me.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 198 b. The dispensacion by the lawe of Deuteronomi of styrryng vp the brothers sede.
1561. Winȝet, 83 Quest., Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 52. An wngodly and wickit peple sterit vp to be Godis scurge.
1564. trans. P. Martyr’s Comm. Judges, 200 b. When God decreed to sende any notable and excellent man, he verye often tymes styrred hym vp out of a barren woman.
d. To rouse to action, activity or emotion; to rouse from indifference or sloth; to incite, instigate, stimulate: cf. 7.
α. 1545. Brinklow, Compl., iii. (1874), 16. God shal sturre vp the hartys euen of his own fryndes agaynst him.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. iv. 42. His am I Atin, his in wrong and right, That … stirre him up to strife and cruell fight.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Serm. (1594), 529. That all the world may take heede how they stirre vp the Lyon of Iudah.
a. 1644. Quarles, Sol. Recant., xii. 11. The wise mans words are like to Goads, that doe Stir up the drowzy, and spur up the slow.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Wars, 403. At which time … they stirred him up to recover the Right and Title of Oneal.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1251. He will … with malitious counsel stir them up … yet further to afflict thee.
a. 1720. Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), I. II. 129. The constable stirred up the rude people, and cried, Kill him [Cf. Acts vi. 12 etc.].
1838. J. L. Stephens, Trav. Russia, 107/1. The French … were always suspected of being political emissaries to stir up the Poles to revolution.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, v. I shall write to my lawyers to stir up our detectives.
1890. Boston (Mass.) Jrnl., 4 Aug., 1/8. The Pennsylvania Road has stirred up a hornet’s nest.
1894. Bridges, Feast of Bacchus, I. 44. Stirring up your servants.
β. a. 1500. Prophecy, 34, in Bernard. de cura rei fam., 33. Þe stepsonys of þe lyonne steryt vp at ones, Þe leoperde sall þame stryke doune.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 10. We ought the more to … stere vp our hertes to deuocyon.
1549. Bk. Com. Prayer, 97 b, Collect 25th Sunday after Trinity, Stiere vp we beseche thee, O Lord, the wylles of thy faythfull people.
1570. Buchanan, Admonitioun, Wks. (1892), 22. Nowther honour nor commoun weill sterit ȝow up than.
1641. Sc. Acts Chas. I. (1817), V. 579/2. To give ordour to the seuerall ministeris … to steir vp the peopill of thair particular parosches … to extend þr liberalitie þrto.
γ. 1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 113. Vaschus Nunnez … stoured vp certeyne lyght felowes ageynst Ancisus.
e. To excite, provoke, induce; to raise, set on foot (strife, disturbance, etc.); to arouse (feeling or emotion): cf. 9.
α. 1538. Elyot, Dict., Irrito, to prouoke, to kendyl wrathe, to styrre vppe.
1544. Betham, Precepts War, I. iii. B iv. It is a lyght thyng to styre vp battayl, but to leaue of with glorye … is an harde thyng.
1546. Bp. Gardiner, Detect. Devil’s Sophistrie, 16. Ye deuyll … sturreth vp this abhominable heresy.
1622. L. Digges, trans. Cespedes’ Gerardo, 2. The sad spectacle stirred vp the poore mens compassion.
1634. Milton, Comus, 174. Merriment, Such as the jocond Flute … Stirs up among the loose unleter’d Hinds.
1683. W. Lloyd, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 187. Such songs as are most apt to stir up devotion.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 163, ¶ 6. Authors who are apt to stir up Mirth in the Mind of the Readers.
1820. Scott, Monast., vi. Whet the temporal sword if it be necessary, and stir up the courage and zeal of your loyal vassals.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xiv. III. 464. He did not conceive that he was bound to be always stirring up sedition against them.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, vii. Unless they stir up a riot at Rome I shall not trouble the Emperor by mentioning them.
β. c. 1530. Spirituall Counsayle, G j. That I myghte stere up in me a fresche remembraunce of thy moste blyssed deathe.
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Par. Rom. xvi. 25–27. The misterie, whiche … nowe is opened … to stere vp obedience to the fayth published among all nacions.
1567. Drant, Horace, Ep., II. i. G vij. That poet on a stretched rope maye walke and neuer fall, That can stere vp my passions or quicke my sprytes at all.
γ. a. 1555. Philpot, Exam., etc. (Parker Soc.), 380. The Jews … for the ceremonies of their country and rites eftsoons stored up great controversies.
IV. 17. Comb. with sb. in obj. relation: stir-passion, something that stirs or excites passion; stir-strife a., that stirs or excites strife. nonce-wds. See also STIRABOUT, STIR-UP.
1586. Warner, Alb. Eng., V. xxiii. (1589), 104. That heard the Pope, canonizing the stir-strife Priest a Saint.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, V. 185. It were requisite for an excellent stir-passion to have in a readinesse all those places.
