steady
Part of speech: adj
verb
particle
noun
adv
intj
Morphological type: derivation
Topics: hobbies
lifestyle
rowing
sports
Etymology: From Middle English stedy, studi, stidiȝ, perhaps continuing Old English stæþþiġ, ġestæþþiġ (“steadfast, stable, firm, staid”), equivalent to stead + -y; or calquing Middle Low German or Middle Dutch stēdig. Cognate with Saterland Frisian stoadig (“steady”), West Frisian stadich (“slow”), Danish stedig, stadig, steeg, Swedish stadig, Icelandic stöðugur, German stätig, stetig.
Compare also Old English ġestedegian (“to bring to a standstill”) and Dutch steeds (“more and more”).
Adjective sense 8 is a semantic loan from Singapore Hokkien 在 (chāi, “confident, skilled”, literally “steady”).
Base: stead
Affixes: -y
Inflected forms:
form: steadier
pos: adj
tags: comparative
form: steadiest
pos: adj
tags: superlative
form: steddy
pos: adj
tags: alternative
form: stedy
pos: adj
tags: alternative
form: steadies
pos: verb
tags: present
singular
third-person
form: steadying
pos: verb
tags: participle
present
form: steadied
pos: verb
tags: participle
past
form: steadied
pos: verb
tags: past
form: steddy
pos: verb
tags: alternative
form: stedy
pos: verb
tags: alternative
form: steddy
pos: particle
tags: alternative
form: stedy
pos: particle
tags: alternative
form: steadies
pos: noun
tags: plural
form: steddy
pos: noun
tags: alternative
form: stedy
pos: noun
tags: alternative
form: steddy
pos: adv
tags: alternative
form: stedy
pos: adv
tags: alternative
form: steddy
pos: intj
tags: alternative
form: stedy
pos: intj
tags: alternative
Senses:
gloss: Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.
pos: adj
examples: Hold the ladder steady while I go up.
Their feet steady, their hands diligent, their eyes watchful, and their hearts resolute.
But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ¶ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder. The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window,[…].
When I went to Harrow, thirty years ago, I found a winter evening game in force there, called 'high cockalorum,' […] The players used to divide into two opposing bands of from twelve to fourteen each – in fact, the more the merrier. One side 'went down,' so as to constitute a long 'hogsback' – the last boy having a couple of pillows between himself and the wall, and each boy clasping his front rank man, and carefully tucking his own 'cocoa-nut' [i.e., head] under his right arm, so as to prevent fracture of the vertebrae. When the hogsback was thus formed, the other side came on, leapfrogging on to the backs of those who were down, the best and the steadiest jumpers being sent first. […]
Captain Edward Carlisle, soldier as he was, martinet as he was, felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, her alluring smile ; he could not tell what this prisoner might do.
Jenny also used a much more advanced form of wave generation: instead of using a bow string, he was able to create cymatoscopes using piezoelectric generators that could be regulated electronically and could produce steadier wave displacements than any of Jenny’s predecessors.
gloss: Constant in feeling, purpose, or pursuit; not fickle, changeable, or wavering; not easily moved or persuaded to alter a purpose; resolute.
pos: adj
examples: a man steady in his principles, in his purpose, or in the pursuit of an object
gloss: Smooth and not bumpy or with obstructions.
pos: adj
examples: a steady ride
gloss: Phlegmatic, calm; not easily upset, excited, or disturbed.
pos: adj
examples: a steady tone of voice
Thy ſteddy Temper, Portius,
Can look on Guilt, Rebellion, Fraud, and Cæſar,
In the calm Lights of mild Philoſophy;
I’m tortured, ev’n to Madneſs, when I think
On the proud Victor: […]
gloss: Regular and even.
pos: adj
examples: the steady course of the Sun;  a steady breeze of wind
The rebuilding of damaged stations is proceeding slowly, on account of the shortage of building materials and the pressing needs of housing, but steady progress is being made.
During programmed changes, no steady green signal indication or flashing yellow signal indication shall be terminated and immediately followed by a steady red or flashing red signal indication without first displaying the steady yellow signal […]
gloss: Slow.
pos: adj
gloss: With whom one is going steady.
pos: adj
tags: dated
informal
examples: I have been trying to remember what other porn movies I've seen. I know that I should be able to recall many a title as, When I was eighteen, my steady girlfriend and I would go to drive-in theatres and half-watch them all the time.
gloss: Confident and cool-headed under pressure; competent; reliable, adept.
pos: adj
tags: Singapore
Singlish
predicative
examples: You get it right too many times. Your viewers must think you're damn solid, right? Get so many right on TV, steady lah, ang moh, they say, right? Fame gone to your head, is it?
gloss: To stabilize; to prevent from shaking.
pos: verb
tags: figuratively
sometimes
transitive
examples: I took a drink to steady my nerves.
gloss: To become stable.
pos: verb
tags: intransitive
examples: The ship steadied in the air. Another spray of ballast came, heavier than the last.
gloss: Aspect marker indicating consistency or intensity.
pos: particle
examples: Why you steady cappin'?
gloss: A rest or support, as for the hand, a tool, or a piece of work.
pos: noun
gloss: A regular boyfriend or girlfriend.
pos: noun
tags: informal
examples: “Dalton is my steady, now. If I break up with him, you're the first on the list.” “Thanks,” said Ted. “What a privilege to be second choice.”
gloss: A prostitute's regular customer.
pos: noun
tags: informal
examples: Some of my steadies wanted me to go out with them on a date. Occasionally I let one of them take me to a film or out for a meal.
gloss: To row with pressure at a low stroke-rating, often 18 strokes per minute.
pos: adv
tags: informal
not-comparable
examples: After the sprint pieces, we rowed steady for the rest of practice.
gloss: Alright!, way to go!, nice!
pos: intj
tags: Singlish
Synonyms: staunch
unyielding
uniform
unvarying
ponderous
stately
consistent
equable
equal
even
even-keeled
monotonous
regular
samely
stable
steady
uncheckered
unvaried
Antonyms: unsteady
Derived words: go steady
land of steady habits
non-quasi-steady
nonsteady
oversteady
ready, steady, go
rock-steady
rocksteady
rock steady
slow and steady wins the race
Steadicam
steadily
steadiness
steady as a rock
steady as she goes
steady-as-she-goes
Steady Eddie
steady Eddie
steady-going
steady hand at the tiller
steady-handed
steady hand on the tiller
steadyish
steady on
steady pom pi pi
steady state
steady-state
steady stater
steady state theory
steady the ship
Translations: