steady

Meaning

Adj

1. Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.
2. Constant in feeling, purpose, or pursuit; not fickle, changeable, or wavering; not easily moved or persuaded to alter a purpose; resolute.
3. Smooth and not bumpy or with obstructions.
4. Phlegmatic, calm; not easily upset, excited, or disturbed.
5. Regular and even.
6. Slow.
7. (dated, informal) With whom one is going steady.
8. (Singapore, Singlish, predicative) Confident and cool-headed under pressure; competent; reliable, adept.

Verb

1. (figuratively, sometimes, transitive) To stabilize; to prevent from shaking.
2. (intransitive) To become stable.

Particle

Aspect marker indicating consistency or intensity.

Noun

1. A rest or support, as for the hand, a tool, or a piece of work.
2. (informal) A regular boyfriend or girlfriend.
3. (informal) A prostitute's regular customer.

Adv

To row with pressure at a low stroke-rating, often 18 strokes per minute.

Intj

Alright!, way to go!, nice!

Synonyms

firm

stable

constant

steadfast

solid

fixed

regular

even

permanent

calm

stabilize

secure

stationary

immovable

settled

strong

sound

🔉

motionless

unfaltering

resolute

steadily

staunch

unwavering

still

reliable

persistent

equable

stiff

durable

hard

unshakable

careful

unswerving

smooth

quiet

unchanging

unfluctuating

consistent

uniform

lasting

sure

honest

becalm

level

unbendable

stanch

stably

cool

🆒

continuous

safe

Translations

régulier

firme

fest

stetig

solide

stable

continuo

solide

proporzionato

fermo

regelmäßig

constant

festigen

Redlichkeit

σταθερός

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈstɛdi/

Etymology

Cognate with Western Frisian: stadich

Cognate with Danish: stedig

Cognate with Swedish: stadig

Cognate with Icelandic: stöðugur

Cognate with German: stätig

In summary

From Middle English stedy, studi, stidiȝ, perhaps continuing Old English stæþþiġ, ġestæþþiġ (“steadfast, stable, firm, staid”), equivalent to stead + -y; or calquing Middle Low German or Middle Dutch stēdig. Cognate with Saterland Frisian stoadig (“constant, continual”), West Frisian stadich (“slow”), Danish stedig, stadig, steeg, Swedish stadig, Icelandic stöðugur, German stätig, stetig.
Compare also Old English ġestedegian (“to bring to a standstill”).
Sense 8 of the adjective is a semantic loan from Hokkien 在 (chāi, “steady, confident”).