steven
nounnouncommon in dialogue
- //ˈstiːvən//
- //ˈsteɪvən//
- //ˈstɛvən//
Voice, especially when loud or strong.
noun
- 1
Voice, especially when loud or strong.
1566, William Addlington, translator, The Golden Asse, Apuleius […] whereby the little birds weening that the spring time had bin come, did chirp and sing in their steven melodiously […]
When Little John heard his master speake, / Well knew he it was his steven.
Then could her Sangsters loud their steven raise.
All nature roar'd in one dire steven; Heaven cried to earth, and earth to heaven.
- 2
obsoleteA request, petition, prayer, or command.
To thee, lady, y make my moon; I praie thee heere my steuen.
Father of light […] Bring to effect this my desired steauen.
And brought thy precept?^([sic – meaning precepts]) as a burning steauen, Reaching from heauen to earth, from earth to heauen.
Etymology
From Middle English steven (“voice, command, constitution”), from Old English stefn (“voice”), from Proto-West Germanic *stebnu, from Proto-Germanic *stebnō (“voice”), earlier *stemnā, derived from Proto-Indo-European *stómn̥ (“mouth, muzzle; (originally) hole?”). Cognate with Old Frisian stifne, stemme (“voice”), Old Saxon stemna (“voice”), Dutch stem, Old High German stimma, stimna (“voice”) (German Stimme), Gothic 𐍃𐍄𐌹𐌱𐌽𐌰 (stibna, “voice”), and more distantly Ancient Greek στόμα (stóma, “mouth”), Avestan 𐬯𐬙𐬀𐬨𐬀𐬥 (staman, “maw”), and possibly Hittite 𒅖𒋫𒈪𒈾𒀸 (iš-ta-mi-na-aš /stāminas/, “ear”). See also stevvon. Displaced by voice.
noun
- 1
obsoleteA time, occasion.
And that same nyght that the steavyn was sette betwyxte Segwarydes wyff and Sir Trystrames, so Kynge Marke armed and made hym redy ….
I should choose to read "at this dull season," rather than this dull steven, [...]— John Monck Mason.
Let us some masteries make, And we will walk in the woods even; We may chance meet with Robin Hood Here at some unset steven.
Etymology
From Middle English steven (“appointment”), from Old English stefn (“a time, turn, tour of duty”), from Proto-Germanic *stabnijaz, *stabnijô (“fixed time”), from Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ- (“a stake, post; to support, stamp, insist, become angry”). Cognate with Middle Low German stevene (“a court appointment”), Old Norse stefna (“appointment, meeting”). More at staff.
Forms
- plural
- stevens
steven · Voice, especially when loud or strong.
Steven · A male given name from Ancient Greek, variant of Stephen.Stevens · A surname originating as a patronymic, derived from the given…Stevenson · A surname originating as a patronymic.