Forms: 1 stíeran, (ʓe)stéoran, stéran, stíoran, stíran, stýran, 2 isteoran, -en, stieran, 3 ste(o)ren, Orm. ste(o)renn, 3–7 stere, 4 stiere, (sture), Sc. steyr, 4–5 ster, 4–7 steere, 4–8 Sc. steir, 5 steare, 5–6 styre, 6 stir(e, 6–7 stirre, stear (6 arch. ysteare), 7 sterre, 5– steer. Pa. t. 2 stierde, 3 steorede, 4 sterd, steryd, 5 stered, Sc. sterit, 6–7 steard, 8 steird. Pa. pple. 1 ʓestíored, 4 steerid, sterede, stierd, 4–5 stered, 6 Sc. steirt. [Com. Teut.: OE. stíeran = OFris. stiura, MLG. stûren, (M)Du. sturen, stíeren, OHG., MHG. stiuren (mod.G. steuern), ON. stýra (Sw., Norw. styra, Da. styre):—OTeut. *steurjan, f. *steurō rudder, STEER sb.2
A verb of identical form, OTeut. *steurjan f. *steurjo- strong, rigid (see STEER a.), appears in Goth. stiurjan to establish, to affirm. It is possible that the OE. sense ‘to rebuke’ may belong to a verb f. the Teut. adj.]
1. trans. To guide the course of (a vessel) by means of a rudder, or of an oar or paddle used like a rudder.
Now occas. in wider sense, to guide (a vessel) by other mechanical means, e.g., by a propeller or arrangement of sails.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1046. Up þæs cynges scipe þe Harold eorl ær steorde.
a. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 43. [Noe] hie [sc. ða arche] swa stierde on ðe muchele wilde fode … ðat [etc.].
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 14099. To þer schipes þey gaf þer tent To stere þem boþe fer & hende.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 59. Thei conne noght here Schipes stiere, So besiliche upon the note Thei herkne.
1400. 26 Polit. Poems, i. 65. Whanne a fool stereth a barge, Hym self and al the folke is shent.
1598. Florio, Ital. Dict., To Rdr. 9. They were many to steere a passage-boate.
a. 1647. Pette in Archaeologia, XII. 268. The ship wrought exceeding well, and was so yare of conduct that a foot of helm would steer her.
1748. Anson’s Voy., III. v. 342. The proa generally carries six or seven Indians; two of which are placed in the head and stern, who steer the vessel alternately with a paddle according to the tack she goes on.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 183. In steering a vessel, it has been usual for the helmsman to have one compass, and the captain in his cabin to have another.
1853. Miss Yonge, Heir of Redclyffe, xxiii. Martin had best steer it; he knows the rocks.
1909. Edin. Rev., July, 219. No less impossible than to steer a boat without taking a seat in it.
In figurative context. c. 1200. Ormin, 15259. Forr itt iss sett her att te ster To sterenn baþe þoþre.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 11. Lo, thus was Petres barge stiered Of hem that thilke tyme were.
a. 1529. Skelton, Bouge of Court, 107. She that styreth the shyp, make her your frende.
1577. Gosson, in Kirton’s Mirr. Mans Lyfe, K viij. The prime of youth, whose greene vnmellowd yeres … sets vp saile, and sternlesse ships ysteares.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1655), I. VI. lviii. 305. Unless wisdom sit at the Helm and steer the motions of his Will.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. i. 874. For whatsoe’re we perpetrate, We do but row, we’are steer’d by Fate.
1911. Sir H. Craik, Life Clarendon, I. ii. 60. He steered his bark through the dangerous eddies with consummate skill.
b. transf. Of animals.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. liv. (1495), 171. In foules wyth clouen fete the fote is nedefull to ledynge, styrynge and rulynge in waters.
1657. trans. Jonstonus’ Wond. Things Nat., 233. He [the Squirril] takes the bark of a Tree that is very light, and sets it on the water, sitting in it, and stears it with his Tail lifted up, and so the wind carries him over.
1873. Tristram, Moab, vii. 131. Without a perceptible movement of their wings, only their long tails gently steering them in and out.
c. To guide (a vessel) to a specified point or in a specified direction.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVIII. xix. 760. Lete me be putte within a barget & but one man with me suche as ye trust to stere me thyder.
1574. W. Bourne, Regiment for Sea (1580), 78. Nowe for to set any course to stirre the ship vpon any place appoynted.
1781. Cowper, Charity, 25. When Cook … Steer’d Britain’s oak into a world unknown.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., ciii. We steer’d her toward a crimson cloud.
1876. J. G. Holland, Seven Oaks, x. 133. Jim steered his boat around a little bend and in a moment it was running in shallow water.
† d. To work (the rudder). Obs.
c. 1570. Satir. Poems Reform., xxx. 57. In trublous time yow micht haif steirt ye ruther.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XXVI. i. 284. For tenne dayes space there was none to steere the helm of the Empire.
e. To steer a, one’s course: (a) lit. of a helmsman or a navigator, to guide a vessel along a certain course; also of the vessel (cf. 2 d); (b) transf. and fig.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., IV. i. He beares an unturned sayle with every winde: Blowe east, blowe west, he stirs his course alike.
1644. in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 325. Those particulars that first induced me to steere this course.
1650. Hubbert, Pill Formality, 193. If they have not Christ Jesus for their Pilot to steere their course for them, they must certainly sinke.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 248. Intending to take ship at Alexandria, and steer the course for Italy.
1709. T. Robinson, Vind. Mosaick Syst., 49. The Magnet … which guides him to steer his Course through these vast Expansions of Water.
1748. Anson’s Voy., III. i. 302. It blew from the S.W, and consequently was directly opposed to the course we wanted to steer.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, III. 174. Let us learn to steer the middle course.
1764. Harmer, Observ., ii. 59. Deserts where the Arabs alone know how to steer their course.
1822. Hazlitt, Men & Mann., Ser. II. v. (1869), 113. You must steer a middle course.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Steer her course, going with the wind fair enough to lay her course.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, xxii. 358. To see that the boat was steering her right course.
† f. refl. = to steer one’s course. Also in passive, to be guided (by the compass, etc.) in steering.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, IV. 80. Ne had þei striked a strake and sterid hem þe better,… Þey had be þrowe ouere þe borde backewarde ichonne.
1651. J. C[leveland], Poems, 35. The Card by which the Mariners are stear’d.
2. absol. and intr. To guide a vessel by means of a rudder or the like.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., ix. 59. Swiðe eaðe mæʓ on smyltre sæ unʓelæred scipstiera ʓenoh ryhte stieran.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 312. He that behinde sat to stiere Mai noght the forestempne hiere.
c. 1515. Cocke Lorell’s B., 12. Some stered at the helme behynde, Some whysteled after the wynde.
1587. Mirr. Mag., Severus, viii. who takes to raygne the scepter in his hand, Is like to him, in sterne to stirre that sits.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 745. Some of their men were starued, the rest all so weake, that onely one could lie along vpon the Helm and sterre.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., II. 395. Two skilful helmsmen on the poop to steer.
1839. Malcom, Trav. (1840), 45/1. Boats lie before the town, literally in thousands…. The wife steers, while the husband rows.
1883. F. Mitchell, in Century Mag., Sept., 655/1. Even the men whose work lies ashore have all been more or less at sea, and can steer and reef on a pinch.
In figurative context. 1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., II. 155. The Prior of S. Androis elected Bischop … intendis in thair contrare to steir and row, with diligens.
1681. Flavel, Right Man’s Ref., 202. Let God steer for you in a storm.
b. intr. in passive sense. Of a ship: To admit of being steered; to answer the helm (well or ill).
1627. Capt. Smith, Sea Gram., ix. 40. Foundering is when she will neither veere nor steare.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. ii. 18. The Ship will Stear the better when you sit all quiet.
1692. J. Smith’s Seaman’s Gram., I. xvi. 83. The Ship … does not steer steddy.
1829. Ann. Reg., Chron., 127/1. She pulls six oars; has two lug sails; steers either with a scull or rudder.
1880. Times, 25 Dec., 7/4. The ship sails well…. Steers well under all circumstances, and is very handy.
c. Of a navigator: To guide a vessel in a certain direction; to sail or row towards a specified place.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 185. Þanne whitli þe weiht ouur þe watur sterus, And þe lettrus to his lord ledus ful sone.
c. 1614. Sir W. Mure, Wks., I. 64. The Ile no sooner to their eyes appear’d, Till thither Palinure their pilote steir’d.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 1020. Or when Ulysses on the Larbord shunnd Charybdis, and by th’ other whirlpool steard.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., II. vi. 67. You may estimate the Min. but you cannot Steer by a whole Deg.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 270. We steered South-west till Sunday.
1743. Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, 116. We came to sail, and steer’d out of the Lagoon West.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., l. III. 128. They steered by the guidance of the stars.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), III. 599/2. But failing of this, they steered to Jamaica.
1799. Monthly Rev., XXX. 134, note. They seized a canoe, and steered along shore.
1840. Thirlwall, Hist. Greece, lix. VII. 325. He set sail from Ephesus … and steered direct for Athens.
1871. B. Taylor, Faust, II. II. iii. 146. They have left the place, Steering away to Samothrace.
1874. Green, Short Hist., vii. § 6. 407. The daring adventurer steered undauntedly for the Moluccas.
fig. a. 1639. T. Carew, To Her in Absence, 10. Love is the Pilot, but o’r-come with fear Of your displeasure, dares not homewards stear.
c. 1655. Milton, 2nd Sonn. to Cyriack Skinner, 8. Yet I … still bear vp and steer Right onward.
1674. Temple, Lett., Wks. 1731, II. 297. I knew he was a great Man, but could not tell yet, to what Points of the Compass he intended to steer.
1675. Ld. Danby, in Essex Papers (Camden), 22. Though itt bee very difficult to steere amongst so many rocks of faction, without striking upon some.
d. Of a ship: To be guided by the helm in a certain direction.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 515. As when a Ship … where the Wind Veres oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her Saile.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. ii. 18. You have the Ship as at first, steering under all her Canvas.
1720. Ramsay, Prosp. Plenty, 156. Vers’d in the critic seasons o’ the year, When to ilk bay the fishing-bush should steer.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. x. 242. The galeon being thus fitted for her return, the Captain on leaving the port of Acapulco, steers for the latitude of 13° or 14°.
1839. Marryat, Phant. Ship, xii. The Batavia steered into the roads.
1885. Law Times Rep., LIII. 60/1. The Chusan was steering E. by S., and proceeding at the rate of about ten knots.
e. To steer large, small: see quot. 1867.
1834. M. Scott, Cruise Midge, ix. The frigate was steering large, about a mile on our lee-bow.
1846. A. Young, Naut. Dict., 319. To steer small, means to steer steadily without putting the helm too much to either side. To steer large, is the reverse.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Steer Large, to go free, off the wind. Also, to steer loosely. Ibid., Steer Small, to steer well and within small compass, not dragging the tiller over from side to side.
f. To steer clear of: chiefly fig., to avoid completely.
1723. De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 69. We would have steered clear of them, and cared not to have them see us, if we could help it, but they did see us, and cried, Who comes there?
1789. Belsham, Ess., I. xviii. 338. Of tame acquiescence in vulgar opinion … Walpole … has steered perfectly clear.
1804. Med. Jrnl., XII. 415. It is incumbent on them … whilst they steer clear of Scylla, to beware they do not fall into Charybdis.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, III. vii. ¶ 5. I steered clear of Hortensia.
1838. Prescott, Ferd. & Is., I. xviii. (1842), II. 160. Columbus … had been instructed … to steer clear of all Portuguese settlements on the African coast.
1884. Manch. Exam., In June, 5/5. Mr. Marshall spoke with good humour, and steered clear alike of levity and acerbity.
1893. Hodges, Elem. Photogr. (1907), 68. Enabling him to steer clear of some of these [difficulties].
3. trans. In extended sense, to guide something that is in motion. In various applications.
a. To guide (a chariot, a horse, cattle, etc.).
In mod. racing parlance the sense is a new development from sense 1.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxvi. § iii. Se stiorð þam hrædwæne eallra ʓesceafta.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VI. 334. Thar may no man haf worthy hede, Bot he haf wit to steir his stede.
a. 1568. Wyf of Auchtirmuchty, 100, in Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Club), 345. Scho … stowtly steird the stottis abowt.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. viii. 30. His charet swift in haste he thither steard.
1844. Kinglake, Eöthen, xxi. I steered my dromedary close up alongside of the mounted Bedouin.
1850. R. G. Cumming, Hunter’s Life S. Africa (1902), 105/2. The native who led the long team … suddenly turned the leading oxen short towards the river’s bank, thus rendering it impossible for the driver to steer his after-oxen.
1884. A. E. T. Watson, in Longman’s Mag., April, 605. It may be that he is going to steer his own animal in the race for which it is being prepared.
1890. D. Davidson, Mem. Long Life, iv. 92. Tapp was the jockey … and steered him to victory.
b. To guide (a plow).
c. 1480. Henryson, Mor. Fab., 2224. Thair wes ane Husband, quhilk had ane pleuch to steir.
1724. Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. (1733), I. 29. Twa good stilts to the pleugh And ye your sell maun steer.
1758. Akenside, Odes, II. xi. 9. The conquerors … fed Calabrian flocks, and steer’d the Sabine plough.
1914. Daily News, 25 Feb., 2. He feeds the pigs and steers the plough.
c. To guide the course of (a land carriage, a balloon, a bicycle, etc.) by mechanical means; to guide (a floating object) by taking advantage of a current.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), I. 233. These sledges hold only two, the traveller and the guide, who sits forward steering with a stick.
1788. Cowper, Dog & Water Lily, 18. With cane extended far I sought To steer it close to land.
1873. G. C. Davies, Mount. & Mere, xi. 91. A plague of gnats … doubly unpleasant when steering a bicycle along rutty lanes.
1910. Encycl. Brit., I. 269/2. Santos Dumont … won the Deutsch prize by steering a balloon from St. Cloud round the Eiffel Tower and back in half an hour.
d. To guide, lead, ‘pilot’ (a person) through a crowd, along an intricate path, etc. Also absol. Also (U.S. slang) to manœuvre or decoy (a person) to a place, or into doing something.
1859. Habits of Gd. Society, v. 210. It is the gentleman’s duty to steer, and in crowded rooms nothing is more trying.
1889. Century Dict., Bunko-steerer, that one of the swindlers called bunko-men who allures or steers strangers to the bunko-joint or rendezvous.
1891. C. Roberts, Adrift Amer., 159. I don’t thank you very much for steering me up against such a job.
1911. C. F. Hamilton, in United Empire, June, 383. There is little or no suggestion that he is sent to ‘steer’ us, as an American would say.
1915. Sketch, 16 June, 227/1. I … shook hands with old Lemann, and steered him into the smoking-room.
4. intr. To shape one’s course (on land, in the air). Also trans. with cognate object.
c. 1500. Lancelot (S.T.S.), 3428. And brandymagus chargit he to stere Efter hyme, within a lytill space.
1629. Milton, Ode Nativity, 146. Mercy … With radiant feet the tissued clouds down stearing.
1633. C. Farewell, East-Ind. Colation, 45. [The elephant] steeres like a hulke, stifnecked, almost all of one peice.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 225. Then with expanded wings he stears his flight Aloft. Ibid., VII. 430. So stears the prudent Crane Her annual Voiage.
c. 1670[?]. Hist. Tom Thumb, III. 104, in Hazl., E. P. P., II. 237. But Tom cry’d in a merry mood: Unto the King we’ll steer.
1700. T. Brown, Amusem. Ser. & Com., 11. Let’s Steer for the Court, for that’s the Region which will furnish us with the finest Lessons.
a. 1701. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1732), 134. Here steering Northerly directly up the Valley.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., I. ii. Driven frae house and hald, where will ye steer?
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), V. 32. The quails … steer their flight back to enjoy in Egypt the temperate air.
1792. Burns, My ain kind Dearie, iii. At noon the fisher seeks the glen, Along the burn to steer.
1807. Wordsw., White Doe, V. 32. She … oft her steps had hither steered.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, xxix. The Frenchman … bowed, and drew himself aside. Vincent steered by.
1837. W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, I. 111. He was bravely steering his way across the continent.
1887. J. Ball, Nat. in S. Amer., 128. Passing the houses, I at once steered for the rocky slopes behind.
1896. Baden-Powell, Matabele Campaign, xvi. I steered by moon and time until I thought I was near Enkeldoorn.
b. Of an inanimate thing: To travel in a set course.
1692. Bentley, Boyle Lect., viii. 25. The Winter of the Year, when the Sun was the nearest of all, and steer’d directly over mens heads.
1830. Marryat, King’s Own, xxii. The moon … was high in the heavens, steering for the zenith in all her beauty.
1861. Clough, Ess. Class. Metres, Elegiacs, i. 5. Thou busy sunny river:… Through woodlands steering, with branches waving above thee.
† c. trans. To direct one’s course towards (a place). Obs. (? nonce-use.)
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 328. Satan … Betwixt the Centaure and the Scorpion stearing His Zenith.
† 5. To check, restrain, control. In OE. also: To rebuke. (In OE. the obj. is in the dative.) Obs.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Mark viii. 30. Forbead vel stiorde vel stiorend wees him [Vulg. comminatus est eis].
971. Blickl. Hom., 19/5. Seo meniʓo styrde þæm blindan þæt he cleopode.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 192. Wið maʓan bryne & þurste; wlaco wæter menge wið þone selestan ele, sele drincan, þæt styrð þam þurste.
a. 1225. St. Marher., 9. Þu steorest te sea stream þæt hit fleden ne mot it þan þu markedest.
a. 1300. K. Horn (Camb. MS.), 434. ‘Lemman’ he sede ‘dere, Þin herte nu þu stere.’
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4295. Thoru strengh o luue þat nan mai stere.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 27. Þay ar happen also þat con her hert stere.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 935. And fyr so wod it myȝte nat been steerid In al the noble toure of ylioun.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 122. So that thou myht thi tunge stiere.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., 194. His tong for to reule[n] and to stere.
c. 1440. Bone Flor., 825. The lady swowned, and was full woo, Ther myght no man hur stere.
a. 1500. Frere & Boy (c. 1512), A ij b. All that may the pype here Shall not themselfe stere But laugh and lepe aboute.
c. 1640. R. Davenport, Surv. Sci., Wks. (1890), 325. Rhethorick … whose sweete tongue Can steere the stubborn’st hart.
† 6. To guide (a person, his conduct) by admonition or counsel. Obs.
a. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 320. He nolde mid his to-cyme ða synfullan fordeman,… Ærest he wolde us mid liðnysse styran [c. 1175 Lamb. Hom. 95 isteoren] þæt he siððan mihte on his dome us ʓehealdan.
c. 1200. Ormin, 14705. To wurrþenn herrsumm … Till alle þa þatt hafenn þe To ȝemenn & to sterenn.
a. 1225. Juliana, 30. Festne mi bileaue steor me ant streng me.
12[?]. Prayer to Virgin, 30, in O. E. Misc. Bricht and scene quen of storre … in þis false fikele world so me led and steore.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. IX. 42. He strengþeþ þe to stonde he stureþ þi soule.
1655. Stanley, Hist. Philos., III. xvii. (1687), 94/2. Euripides is steer’d by Socrates.
† b. To steer off: to guide away from some opinion. Obs.
1662. H. More, Antid. Ath., I. i. (1712), 9. The attempt of endeavouring to steer them off from Atheism. Ibid. (1681), Expos. Dan., Pref. p. xv. When men see so palpable a correspondency … they will be steared off from conceiving any such sense.
† c. To conduct (one’s life). Also refl.
a. 1250. Prov. Ælfred, 562. Ȝif … þu ne moȝe mid strenghe þeselwen steren.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19822. Fott him to þe, he sal þe lere, Al o þi lijf, hu þu sal stere.
1673. Cave, Prim. Chr., I. ix. 271. He … by Letters gave them [his sons] counsels for the steering themselves.
1699. T. C[ockman], trans. Tully’s Offices (1706), 117. By whose Counsel and Direction they may steer their Lives.
† d. Of reasons, indications, influences: To guide. Obs.
1649. Nicholas Papers (Camden), 135. I am confident … his fathers last desires and commands will steere our yong King right.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., i. 21. Their life being steered by nothing else but opinion and imagination.
1653. Blithe, Engl. Improver Impr., 63. Therefore in every new work some triall would be made of all materials, and therein thou must be steered by those the very place affords, whether Stone, Chalk, Wood, or Earth, or all.
a. 1683. Owen, Holy Spirit (1693), 262. So as to be steered thereby in his Work.
e. intr. To direct one’s course of action (by guiding indications). Often, to find a safe course between two evils or two extremes.
1658. Sir T. Browne, Hydriot., 18. If we steer by the conjecture of many and Septuagint expression; some trace thereof [burial of treasures] may be found.
1670. Temple, Lett., Wks. 1731, II. 224. By his Advice his Highness resolves to steer in the Course of his Affairs and Motions relating to England.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, Ded. (e) 4 b. I thought fit to steer betwixt the two extreams, of Paraphrase, and literal Translation.
a. 1718. Prior, Paulo Purg., 57. Her Prudence did so justly steer Between the Gay and the Severe.
c. 1721. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 198. I have been now two years on this side [of the water] but still steer’d snugg and clear that I might preserve my credit and safety at home.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., iii. 51. Rational animals should use their reason, and steer by it.
1769. Robertson, Chas. V., III. VIII. 103. Now he should steer in that difficult and arduous conjuncture.
1818. Hallam, Mid. Ages, viii. III. (1819), III. 294. The rolls of parliament, by whose light we have hitherto steered.
1858. Greener, Gunnery, 309. I am quite satisfied to steer between extremes.
† 7. To govern, rule. Obs. exc. as conscious metaphor (figurative use of sense 1).
To have to steer: to have under one’s command.
c. 900. Bæda’s Hist., IV. xii. (1890), 300. Tweʓen biscopas [wæron] on his stowe ʓesette … þæt wæs Boosa, se styrde [v.r. steorde] Dera mæʓðe, & Eata Beornicea.
c. 1200. Ormin, 3679. He þatt all þiss weorelld shop & alle shaffte stereþþ.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter, ii. 9. In yherde irened salt þou stere þa.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 38. Alexander the King … That Scotland haid to steyr and leid.
a. 1400. Launfal, 684. Be god, that all may stere.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 117. Thre thousand knightes he had to stere.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, V. 920. Off kyn he was, and Wallace modyr ner, Off Craufurd syd that mydward had to ster.
c. 1480. Henryson, Mor. Fab., 1571. To reule and steir the land, and Iustice keip.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xi. 14. All are gone At will of God that all thing steiris.
1601. Lambarde, Dict. Angl. Top. (1730), 42. One of the most wise … Princes that ever stered this common Weale.
1633. Ford, Broken H., V. ii. K 1. Neuer liu’d Gentleman of greater merit, Hope, or abiliment to steere a kingdome.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 878. Some will from hence be apt to infer, That there is no God at all, but that blind Chance and Fortune steer all.
† b. To manage, administer (government); to conduct (business, negotiations, etc.). Obs.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xvii. Þæt ic … ʓerisenlice mihte steoran & reccan þone anwald þe me befæst wæs.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 10. Maxence steorede þe refschipe in Rome.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 62. The quhilk sterit ane Emperouris estate in his tyme.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. § 157. The great persons who steered the public affairs.
† c. To keep in order (a crowd). Obs.
1676. J. Lane, Contr. Sqr.’s T., XI. 248. For whome large space was made by th’ marshallers, gardantes, and tipp staves, which the people stears.
† d. intr. To have charge of. Obs.
13[?]. Seuen Sages, 894. In that forest woned an herd, That of bestes loked an sterd.
