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.
Quotation dates: 1399-1475, 1567-1596, 1662
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Stedfastly, Steidfastly, adv. Also: -lie. [ME and e.m.E. stedeuastliche (a1200), stedfastli (Cursor M.), stedfastly (Chaucer); Stedfast(e adj.] Steadily, constantly, persistently, without wavering; with firm resolve, belief, or fidelity.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxiii 261.
He one horse gat … & met the dragone … He saynit hyme firste stedfastly ?1438 Alex. ii 3857.
With fyne hart and stedfastly [F. amoureusement] Quhen swete vmbethinking suddanly Me takes and partes my hart in tua c1420 Wynt. v 1356.
That thai in honoure walde procede Than thai suld clyme … And stedfastly thare steppys hald 1460 Hay Alex. 2545.
And men of eild oft … seis befoir and dois all stedfastlie c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace viii 790.
Na murnyng thai maid; Confermyt the sege, and stedfastly abaid 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 28a.
The pwir & iustmanis caus declyne nocht fraa Bot stedfastlie to the waik mannis pairt leine 1596 Dalr. II 186/13.
The Gouernour stedfastlie aduyses with him selfe alytle; than in thir wordis gyues ansuer 1662 Criminal Trials III 618.
Owr handis lifted up, and ve looking stedfastlie wpon the Divell(b) ?1438 Alex. ii 7105.
That thow me lufes steidfastly [F. de bon cuer] 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 31.
Moue ȝow not, in mynde … Bot at His word stand steidfastlie 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 48.
Beleue that firme and steidfastlie a1578 Pitsc. I 224/30.
I beseik ȝow … that ȝe will consider steidfastlie in ȝour myndis and remember [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I 311/27.
That he might steidfastlie abyde the cruell panis … prepairit for him a1585 Maitland Quarto MS 38/59.
Faythfull Christianis … That at the samyn steidfastlie remanis In worde and work without hypocresie a1585 Maitland Quarto MS 98/15.
Worke thy vocatioun steidfastlie
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"Stedfastly adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/stedfastly>
