stealthy

[English stealth: -y.] Like one whose object is to steal; done by stealth; done or accomplished clandestinely; furtive, sly, clandestine, privy. "Now wither'd murder with his stealthy pace, Moves like a ghost." Shakesp. Macbeth , ii. 1. steam, *steem, *stem, *steeme, s. [A.S. steam =a vapor, smell, smoke; Dut.stoom =steam.] I. Ordinary Language : 1. In the same sense as II. 1. 2. Popularly applied to the visible moist vapor which rises from water, and from all moist and liquid bodies, when subjected to the action of heat; as, the steam of boiling water. 3. Haze caused by the sun's heat. 4. Any exhalation. "A pestilent and most corrosive steam , Like a gro fog Bœotian, rising fast." II. Technically : Cowper : Task , iii. 494. 1. Physics: Water in its gaseous form. It is a colorle , invisible gas, quite distinct from the vis ible cloud which i ues from a kettle, ., which is stead of allowing the steam to escape freely, the water is boiled in a closed ve el, the steam accumulates, and both pre ure and temperature rapidly increase, until the former becomes several times greater than that of the atmosphere. If now the steam is allowed to escape, it rapidly expands, and if it escapes into the cylinder of a steam-engine (q. v.), the expansion can be utilized and converted into work. As the steam expands, its pre ure of course becomes le and le , until it is not greater than that of the atmosphere; and at the same time its temperature is reduced, the reduction depending on the rapidity with which expansion takes place. The economic uses of steam are extremely numerous. The most important is that of an agent for the production of mechanical force on railways, in steam-boats, and in manufactories. It is also largely employed in warming buildings, in heating baths, in brewing, in distilling, and for cooking purposes. [STEAM-ENGINE.] 2. Geol.: The explosive force of steam seeking vent is believed to be a potent factor in producing earthquakes and volcanic phenomena.