stead·y  (st ĕd ē)
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adj. stead·i·er, stead·i·est 1. Firm in position or place; fixed. 2. Direct and unfaltering; sure. 3. Free or almost free from change, variation, or fluctuation; uniform: a steady increase in value; a steady breeze. 4. Not easily excited or upset: steady nerves. 5. Unwavering, as in purpose; steadfast. 6. Reliable; dependable. 7. Temperate; sober. tr. & intr.v. stead·ied, stead·y·ing, stead·ies To make or become steady. interj. Nautical Used to direct a helmsman to keep a ship's head in the same direction: Steady as she goes! n. pl. stead·ies The person whom one dates regularly, usually exclusively.
steadi·er n. steadi·ly adv. steadi·ness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices
Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:
Indo-European Roots
Semitic Roots
The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.
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