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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Stedfast(e, adj. and adv. Also: steidfast, steadfast. [ME and e.m.E. stedefast (c1200), stedefasst (Orm), studeuest (a1225), stedfast (Cursor M.), OE stedefæst.]

A. adj. 1. Of persons: Unshakeable, immoveable in belief, etc.; unvarying in action, etc.; resolute; dependable; faithful. b. specif. Loyal (to an individual); owing loyalty or fealty to (him). c1420 Wynt. v 1890.
Trewe and stedfast in thare fay c1420 Wynt. viii 6098.
Of Fortown … It is hyr lauch to be movand Scho war fals gyve scho suld be Stedfast standand in a gre 1460 Hay Alex. 2548.
Men of eild … ar nocht changeabill Bot sad of feris, in deid stedfast and stabill c1460 Consail Vys Man 50.
Gyf euir thow wald at honore bee That euir thi word be trew & traist, And to al men thi hart stedfast, [etc.] c1500 Fyve Bestes 115.
Thar was na force mycht gar him fald Na ȝit reward of warldly gud Bot Scotland ay defend he wald Fra subiectioun of Saxonis blud Thus for his realme stedfast he stud(b) c1450-2 Howlat 174 (A).
Swannis … Stable and steidfast tender and trewe … wys and worthy c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 61/47.
God … deit him self fro deid him [sc. Man] to succour. O quhithir wes kythit thair trew lufe or none? He is most trew and steidfast paramour 15.. Clar. v 840.
Scho so steidfast was in hir having, That naine persave might be hir countinance When that scho felt of paine or of plisance 15.. Dunb. App. x 28.
To quhome I am and sall ay scherwand be With steidfast hairt and faythfull trew mening Vnto the deid 1567 G. Ball. 169.
Christ grant vs all … steidfast to remaine Into Christis Passioun a1568 Scott xxvii 47.
Bot gif scho steidfast stand, And be not wariand [etc.] 1588 King Cat. 50.
This kirk … standis inviolablie strong and steidfastb. (1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 9.
Hou men to God suld stedfast be c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2459.
Assandrus that he wele kend Was to him stedfast & secre c1420 Wynt. vi 2181.
Till Makduff of Fyff the thayne This Malcolme awnsweryd … I sall be lele and stedfast ay, And hald till ilke man gud fay(2) c1475 Wall. iii 31.
It war the best … Mycht he him get to be his steidfast man a1500 Lanc. 2790.
He … hir byhecht euer … To be hir awn trew & stedfast knycht

2. Of a belief, etc.: Unchanging, unvarying, steady, firm, stable; reliable, dependable; faithful. c1420 Wynt. v 3793.
He … haylyssyd hym mekly That he wald lows hym off hys syne … He made hym stedfast [W. Thus maid he faire and meik prayere, C. stedfast] prayere c1420 Wynt. viii 6340.
Schyr Dawy the Lyndyssay, That wes trewe, off stedfast fay c1420 Ratis R. 485.
Stedfast treuth … has gud qualiteis tway. The fyrst … is traist [etc.] c1460 Regim. Princ. 150 (Maitl.).
Heirfore keip law … And luif larges … But quhilk greit fayth micht nevir stedfast stand ?a1500 Obsecro 103.
Steidfast thocht in cherite, Sufficience with humilite c1520-c1535 Nisbet 2 Cor. vii 10.
The sorow that is eftire God wirkis pennance into stedfast [P. stedefast; L. stabilem] heill, bot sorow of the warld wirkis deid 1567 G. Ball. 21.
Grant vs ane steidfast faith perfyte 1567 G. Ball. 113.
My hope is steidfast in the Lord a1568 Scott xxxiv 122.
Quhair lechery belappis, All steidfast luve it stoppis a1585 Maitl. Q. xcii 10.
In his breist … Lay steidfast treuth and vncorrupted fayth 1604 Acts IV 264/1.
That … perfyte amitie betuix boith natiounes … wisched by his maist excellent maiestie and sic stedfast and a fauld groundis of vniforme societie

b. Of an emolument: Unvarying, dependable. 1585–6 Reg. Privy C. IV 52.
To … put in ordour the same assignationis as thai suld [be] setled steidfast and continew in tyme cuming unchangeit fra yeir to yeir, … and that the occasioun of the … awating on yeirlie of the ministeris … for the modificatioun of thair saidis stipendis may be removed 1600-1610 Melvill 8.
The soum … annes being bestowit, micht purchas a stedfast steipend

3. Of God, heaven, etc.: Unvarying, everlasting. a1400 Leg. S. xxxv 70.
I treu that God is & his ryke Is stedfaste lestand ay in lyke 1567 G. Ball. 42.
Thow can not … change thy purpois … steidfast is thy word for ay

4. Of an object: Fixed, immovable. a1500 Henr. Fab. 199 (Harl.).
Ane sillie scheill vnder ane steidfast [Bann., Asl. erdfast] stane

5. Of a look: Steady, steadily directed. 15.. Clar. v 1323.
With ane stedfast leuke debonarlie Scho all beheld the mirrie companie

B. adv. = Stedfastly adv. 1581 Sat. P. xliv 92.
Sathan led men steid fast be the mane 1662 Crim. Trials III 612.
We all fell downe wpon owr bare kneyis … looking steadfast wpon the Divell