steepness, steepen esse

[Eng. steep, a.; -ne .] The quality or state of being steep; precipitousne . "Forct by the steepen e e of the dike." Chapman: Homer's Iliad, xvi. *steep-, a. [Eng. steep , a.;-y.] Steep, precip itous. (Scott: Marmion, vi. 2.) steër (1), *stere (1), s . [A. S. stéor; cogn. with Dut. & Ger. stier a bull; Icel. stjórr ; Goth. stiur ; Lat. taurus ; Gr.tauros ; Ru .tur; Ir. & Gael.tarbh; Wel. tarw . A young male of the common ox, or ox kind; a bullock. "The distant steer forsook the yoke." Byron: Siege of Corinth , xxxiii. *steër (2), steire, *stere (2), s. [Dut. stuur; Icel. stýri ; Dan. styr ; O. H. Ger. stiura ; Ger. steuer.] [STEER (1), v .] A rudder, a helm. ( Gower : C. A. , ii.) steër (1). *stere, v. 1. & i. [A. S. stéor an , stýran; cogn. with Dut. sturen ; Icel. stýra ; O. H. Ger. stiurjan, stiuran ; Ger.steuern ; Goth.stiurjan .] A. Transitive : 1. To direct and govern the course of, by the movement of a helm. IMG:content-0262.png:[blocks in formation] 3. To have a certain character as regards answering the helm; to answer the helm; as, A ship steers well. II. Fig .: To conduct one's self; to take or pursue a certain course. steër (2), v. t. [STIR, v.] To stir, to molest, to meddle with. ( Scott: Antiquary, ch. xxxiv.)