sterling
Part of speech: adj
Morphological type: simple
Etymology: From Middle English sterling, possibly from Old English *steorling, from steorra (“star”) and -ling, in reference to the stars that appeared on certain English pennies. Alternatively, the first element may be *stēre, meaning “strong” or “stout” (compare the etymology of solidus).
Inflected forms:
form: more sterling
pos: adj
tags: comparative
form: most sterling
pos: adj
tags: superlative
Senses:
gloss: Of or relating to the currency of the United Kingdom, or former types of English or British coinage.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
usually
examples: […] King William [the Lion] vvas to pay 100000. l. [pound] Striueling for his ranſome, the one half in preſent coin, the other 50000 l. vpon time.
The Salaries of all the great Officers of this State, are very ſmall: I have already mentioned that of a Burgomaſter's of Amſterdam to be about fifty pounds ſterling a year: […]
Sir Arthur only stipulated, that a little ragged boy, for the guerdon of one penny sterling, should run to meet his coachman, and turn his equipage back to Knockwinnock.
The doctrine of the Old Testament is the religion of England. […] It believes in a Providence which does not treat with levity a pound sterling.
In the first place, schemes of partial international co-ordination can be arranged between such governments as can agree upon them. This has already been done in the case of the Sterling Bloc, which is composed of countries whose rulers have decided that it is worth while to co-ordinate their separate national plans so that they shall not interfere with each other.
gloss: Of silver: being of standard quality.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
usually
gloss: Of a thing: of or relating to, or made from, sterling silver.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
usually
examples: The ſterling mark upon plate, and the ſtamps upon linen and vvoollen cloth, give the purchaſer much greater ſecurity than any ſtatute of apprenticeſhip.
[W]hat is baſe / No poliſh can make ſterling, […]
gloss: Of English (or (obsolete) Scottish) currency: genuine, of legal tender.
pos: adj
tags: archaic
not-comparable
usually
examples: Pray thee peace, pay her the debt you ovve her, and vnpay the villany you haue done vvith her, the one you may doe vvith ſterling mony, and the other vvith currant repentance.
[I]s this base annunciation a mere swindle on the incautious, to beguile them of their time, their patience, and three shillings of sterling money of this realm?
Sumptuosity and sordidness; revenge, life-weariness, ambition, darkness, putrescence; and, say, in sterling money, three hundred thousand a year,—were this poor Prince once to burst loose from his Court-moorings, to what regions, with what phenomena, might he not sail and drift!
gloss: Of acknowledged influence; authoritative; also, of high or excellent quality; of proven worth.
pos: adj
tags: comparable
figuratively
not-comparable
usually
examples: […] I knovv your Opinion is current and ſterling: […]
This love, ſuppoſing it ſterling, I (ſtultus ego [I am foolish]!) return'd in kind: But I do not repent it.
Then decent pleaſantry and ſterling ſenſe / That never gave nor vvould endure offence, / VVhipp'd out of ſight vvith ſatyr juſt and keen, / The puppy pack that had defil'd the ſcene.
The nephew, Manuel Molina, is a young man of sterling worth and Spanish gravity.
I have said that Mr. Crawley was a stern, unpleasant man; and it certainly was so. The man must be made of very sterling stuff, whom continued and undeserved misfortune does not make unpleasant.
Then the world seemed none so bad, / And I myself a sterling lad; / And down in lovely muck I've lain, / Happy till I woke again.
Southampton had been hoping to get back to winning ways to prove to their critics there was substance to their sterling start to the season.
Neither the law nor the facts support Senator [Charles] Grassley's baseless allegations and extrapolated conclusions. It is disappointing that the senator and his staff continue to focus a politically motivated campaign on Ms. [Huma] Abedin, who has been known her entire professional life for hard work, integrity, and her sterling reputation. It is people like Ms. Abedin whom we should all want in public service.
HSTs [high-speed trains] continued to provide sterling service during these years, so much so that when Virgin and Midland Mainline brought their new wave of high-speed diesel electric multiple units […] on stream, many preferred the ride and comfort of the vanquished to the ride and comfort of the vanquisher.
gloss: Having currency (“general acceptance, recognition, or use”).
pos: adj
tags: comparable
figuratively
not-comparable
obsolete
usually
examples: This waie of exerciſe was […] made ſterling agayne by M. Quintilian: […]
And if my vvord be Sterling yet in England, / Let it command a Mirror hither ſtraight, / That it may ſhevv me vvhat a Face I haue, / Since it is Bankrupt of his Maieſtie.
Derived words: sterlingly
sterlingness
Translations: