steven (steven)

[Early mod. E. also steav en; When Little John heard his master speake, Well knew he it was his steven . Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne. ( Hall i well .) 21. Speech; speaking; crying out. Manne, stynte of thy steuen and be stille. York Plays , p. 365. 3t. That which is uttered; a speech or cry; prayer. To thee, lady, y make my moone; I praie thee heere my Hymns to Virgin , etc. (E. E. T. S.), p. 6. 4t. Word; bidding; command; direction. steuen. IMG:content-2112.png:[blocks in formation] 5. One's word or promise; an agreement; an appointment; hence, anything fixed by appointment. Stephen kept his steaven , and to the time he gave Came to demand what penance he should have. Ellis , Spec. of Anc. Poetry, III. 121. (Nares.) At unset stevent, at a time or place not previously specified; without definite appointment. It is ful fair a man to bere hym evene, For al day meeteth men at unset stevene. Chaucer , Knight's Tale, 1. 666. To set a steven, to make an agreement; fix an appointed time. [Prov. Eng.] Hit fil, on a tyde, That by her bot he a ent was set a steven. Chaucer , Complaint of Mars, 1. 52. steven (stev'en), v . [ stevenen , stef nian , call, summon (= Icel. stefna , stemna , cite, summon), stefn , stemn, voice: see steven , n.] I. trans. 11. To speak; utter; tell of; name. In Rome Y shalle zou steuene And [an] honyred kyrkes fowrty and seuen. Political Poems , etc. (ed. Furnivall), p. 113. 21. To call; summon; command; appoint. Lord God! I loue the lastandly, And highly, botht with harte and hande, That me, thy poure prophett Hely, Haue steuened me in this stede to stande. IMG:content-2113.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-2114.png:[blocks in formation] Stuwyn or bathyn, or stuyn in a stw. Balneo.