Forms: α. 1 stæpe, 1–2 pl. stapas, 3–4 stape, (3 pl. stapen), 4–5 stap(pe, 6 stapp, pl. stapys, (7 stiape), 9. Sc. stap. β. 1 stępe, 2–3 steape, 3–5 stepe. γ. 1 pl. steppan, 3–7 stepp(e, (6 pl. steppen), 3– step. [OE. stæpe, stępe str. masc.:—OTeut. type *stapi-z, f. root *stap-: see STEP v. The precisely equivalent form is not found in continental Teut., but cognate and synonymous sbs. are (M)LG., (M)Du. stap (inflected stapp-), OHG. (MHG., rare mod.G.) stapf:—OTeut. type *stappo-z; also OHG. stapfo wk. masc. (MHG. stapfe masc., fem., mod.G. stapfe(n masc., stapfe fem.):—OTeut. type *stappon-. The mod. form of the sb. does not directly represent the OE. stæpe, stępe, but the rare OMercian stęppe or stęppa, which is influenced by the verb.]
I. Action of stepping.
1. An act of bodily motion consisting in raising the foot from the ground and bringing it down again in a fresh position; usually, an act of this kind as constituting by repetition the progressive motion of a human being or animal in walking, running or climbing.
False step: see FALSE a 6. Hop, step and jump: see HOP sb.2 3.
a. 1023. Wulfstan, Hom. (1883), 302. Ælc þæra stæpa and fotlæsta, þe we to cyricean weard … ʓestæppað.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6942. Hire legges bare bineþe þe kne þat me miȝte ech stape ise.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5194. Israel wit þis vplepp þat moght noght forwit strid a step.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 3989. He prykeþ hem forþ wyþ such an eyr, þat at euery stape sprong out þat fyr þat þay made þanne.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, VII. 527 (MS. β). Ȝif heo wole go barfot for hir silf foure stappes and for the bischop fyve stappes, continulich uppon nyne solow schares brennyng and fuyre hote.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Gradior, to go by steppes.
1574–1794. [see STEALING ppl. a.]
1617. Moryson, Itin., I. 22. On this side the City they shew a stone, whence they say, the Saint called Aurelia passed the lake … at one step.
1667. Milton, P. L., XII. 648. With wandring steps and slow.
1750. Gray, Elegy, 99. Brushing with hasty steps the dews away.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 564. An inadvertent step may crush the snail That crawls at ev’ning in the public path.
1825. Scott, Talism., ii. What do you in the desert with an animal which sinks over the fetlock at every step? Ibid. (1829), Anne of G., xxix. If you will walk a few steps this way.
1867. Augusta Wilson, Vashti, xxix. To-day her manner was excited, and her steps betrayed very unusual impatience.
b. contextually. A footstep or footfall considered in regard to its audibility.
1605. Shaks., Macb., II. i. 57. Thou sowre and firme-set Earth Heare not my steps.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xviii. The steps of travellers seldom broke upon the silence of these regions.
1816. Scott, Antiq., x. Step after step Lorel could trace his host’s retreat along the various passages.
1879. Blackw. Mag., Aug., 180. There were steps coming down the staircase, and voices talking.
Mod. How did you know who it was, when you did not turn your head? I knew him by his step.
c. Manner of stepping or treading; one’s stride.
a. 1000. Riddles, xciii. [lxxxviii.] 10. Strong on stæpe.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, II. 407. With a rud step Wallace coud eftyr glide.
1677. N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., I. (ed. 5), 68. All Harts which have a long step will stand up very long.
1686. Blome, Gentl. Recr., II. 78/2. When the Huntsman endeavoureth to find a Hart by the Slot, and then mind his Step to know whether he is great or long, then say, He is known by his Gate.
1736. Gray, Statius, ii. 2. With sturdy step and slow, Hippomedon.
1832. Lytton, Eugene A., I. vi. There is no bound in our step.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, xii. Tito walked along with a light step.
1870. E. Peacock, Ralf Skirl., I. 13. His step was steady and his voice firm.
d. Mil. One of the various paces taught in drill; as slow or quick step.
1798. Washington, Lett., Writ. 1893, XIV. 18. To train troops to the ‘quick step.’
1802. C. James, Milit. Dict., s.v., Back Step, a step taken to the rear from any position without any change of aspect.
1802–: see QUICK STEP.
1806–: see GOOSE-STEP.
1833. Balance step [see BALANCE sb. 22].
1847. Infantry Man. (1854), 7. Slow Step.… The recruit is to be taught to take 75 of these steps in a minute.
e. Dancing. Any one of the various paces taught by the master; esp. the gliding movement formerly used in the quadrille and other dances (see CHASSÉ sb.). Also, a person’s individual manner of pacing in the dance.
1678. Gailhard, Complete Gentl., II. 49. A Master teaches the steps, but the grace, the carriage, and the free motion of the body must chiefly come from us.
1698. Farquhar, Love & Bottle, II. ii. My Dancing-Master has forbid me any more, lest I should discompose my steps.
1717. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to Pope, 1 April. The steps are varied according to the pleasure of her that leads the dance.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxix. I have even taught her some of La Pique’s steps.
1859. Habits Gd. Society, v. 206. ‘Steps,’ as the chasser of the quadrille is called, belong to a past age, and even ladies are now content to walk through a quadrille.
1884. ‘Edna Lyall,’ We Two, ix. Captain Golightly had the most delicious step imaginable.
1885. W. J. Fitzpatrick, Life T. N. Burke, I. 16. They never saw him dance, though his small feet seemed naturally formed for ‘steps.’
2. pl. Progress by stepping or treading; a person’s movements, his goings and comings, the course that he follows. In many phrases, as to bend or direct one’s steps (to a place, etc.); to retrace, tread back, one’s steps (see RETRACE v. 3, 3 b, TREAD v. 2 b); to conduct, guide a person’s steps; to attend, dog (a person’s) steps; all used both lit. and fig.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. xvi. 5. Ʒeriht, Drihten, mine stæpas on þine weʓas.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xvi. 6. Þat my steppis be noght stirid.
a. 1500[?]. London Lyckpeny, i. To london once my stepps I bent.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 304. Threefold Vengeance tend vpon your steps. Ibid. (1596), Tam. Shr., III. ii. 141. Were it not that my fellow schoolemaster Doth watch Bianca’s steps so narrowly.
1598. Brandon, Octavia, IV. E 5 b. Honour attend thy steps.
1693. Dryden, Ovid’s Met., Acis & Galatea, 56. A Pine … He wielded for a Staff; his steps to guide.
1742. Gray, Adversity, 29. Wisdom … And Melancholy … Still on thy solemn steps attend.
1812. Brackenridge, Views Louisiana (1814), 46. The river pursues a zig zag course for forty or fifty miles, constantly returning upon its steps.
1842. Tennyson, ‘Flow down, cold rivulet,’ 3. No more by thee my steps shall be.
1856. Capern, Poems (ed. 2), 151. And may no rude steps intrude On thy happy solitude.
1858. Trelawny, Shelley, etc. (1887), 184. Envy, malice and hatred bedogged his steps.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, ii. He directed his steps to the hotel.
3. fig. An action or movement that leads towards a result; a particular move or advance in a course of action; one of a series of proceedings or measures.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. 1 John iii. 11–17. For in dede the hate of the neghbour is a step vnto murther.
1602. Chettle, Hoffman, I. (1631), B 4. The first step to reuenge, this seane is donne.
1605. Shaks., Lear, I. i. 231. No vnchaste action or dishonoured step.
1656. in J. Simon, Ess. Irish Coins (1749), 125. The expedients and steps for this worke are many.
1653. Patrick, Pilgrim, xxiv. (1687), 256. How hard do most Men find the first step to any Science.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 395. The Belief that the Savages were all kill’d, made our two Men come boldly out from the Tree before they had charg’d their Guns again, which was a wrong Step.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., ix. 171. Every motion and step in life should be conducted by reason.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., vii. (1842), 200. The best preparatory step is to insure the cleanness and dryness of the retort.
1841. Penny Cycl., XXI. 181/2. That prince deprived the town of its municipal franchises, a step which much depressed it.
1849. R. Patterson (title), First steps to Zoology.
1860. Hook, Lives Abps., II. ii. 144. The next step was to assert the royal supremacy.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 273/1. The first step in the preparation of cotton yarn.
1913. Times, 7 Aug., 8/3. An anatomical prognosis that marked a great step forward.
b. A stage in a gradual process.
1811. Pinkerton, Petral., I. 151. The first step in the process of crystallisation is the formation of grains; the second is [etc.].
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 14. The regularity with which the steps of the argument succeed one another.
4. In phrases that refer to the action of walking evenly with another, putting the right and left foot alternately forward at the same moment with the corresponding foot of the other person; as in step and its opposite out of step (with); step for step (with); to keep step (with; also to music, etc.); † to tell steps with. Also fig.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. ii. 43. I …front but in that File Where others tell steps with me.
1784. Cowper, Task, V. 18. The shapeless pair, As they design’d to mock me, at my side Take step for step.
1844. Mrs. Browning, Rhapsody Life’s Progr., viii. I could walk, step for step, with an angel beside, On the heaven-heights of truth.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. v. The officer, who rode alongside him step for step.
1858. Lovejoy, in Congressional Globe, 18 Feb., 754/2. We hear about keeping step to the music of the Union.
1876–89. Bridges, Growth of Love, xxxvi. Wherefore my feet go out of step with time.
1896. A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, lviii. When I came last to Ludlow … Two friends kept step beside me.
1898. Weekly Register, 15 Jan. We need not go in step with the Bishops over the whole ground exhaustively surveyed.
b. Electr. In step: (of two or more alternating currents) having the same frequency and always in the same phase.
1903. W. Rogers, in Electr. Engin., 25 Dec., 965/2. The secondary voltages are always in step, owing to the primaries being excited off the same mains.
5. Step by step. a. Moving one foot after the other continuously; fig. by successive degrees, by gradual and regular progress.
1581. E. Campion, in Confer., II. (1584), N iiij. That … bodie … ascended vpward steppe by steppe.
1701. Norris, Ideal World, I. ii. 26. If a man does but think and reason on from one thing to another, step by step, in a methodical train.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., i. § 16. I have been drawn into it step by step through several preliminaries.
1870. Thornbury, Tour rd. Eng., II. xxiii. 119. Step by step Wykeham rose to the highest dignities.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 173. The revolution which human nature desires to effect step by step in many ages.
1885. ‘F. Anstey,’ Tinted Venus, iii. 32. He had retired step by step before her to the hearth-rug.
b. Keeping pace with another; at the same rate of progress. (Cf. step for step in 4.)
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Confero, Gradum conferre, to goe as faste as an other: to sette steppe by steppe.
1580. Tho. M., Pref. Verses, 29, in Baret’s Alvearie. Euen step, by step, in following of his feete, In rightest waies.
1610. Shaks., Temp., III. iii. 78. Lingring perdition … shall step by step attend You, and your wayes.
1766. H. Walpole, Lett. to Selwyn, 31 Jan. I go step by step with the British Ambassador.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T., Forester, xiv. Whilst he followed him, step by step, through his instructive narrative.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 594. It [i.e., diarrhœa] disappeared step by step with the skin trouble.
c. attrib. or quasi-adj. = that moves or advances step by step.
1803. G. Ellis, Lett., in Lockhart, Scott (1837), I. xi. 401. I am unable to guide my elephants in that quiet and decorous step-by-step march which the nature of such animals requires.
1813. Examiner, 11 Jan., 19/2. We beg the reader to give them a calm,… step-by-step perusal.
1889. Engineering, 4 Oct., 386/2. The step-by-step advance of the platen somewhat resembles that in the Caligraph.
1893. Sloane, Electr. Dict., Step-by-step Telegraphy, a system of telegraphy in which in the receiving instrument a hand is made to move step-by-step, with an escape movement around a dial.
6. To make or take a step. a. To perform the act of moving the foot as in walking or climbing. Cf. F. faire un pas.
To make or take but one step (from — to —): to pass the interval in a single stride.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, 138. As from ye shotte of a gonne a man were metely saufe, that had ere the gonne were losed, made a steppe asyde .xv. hundred myle from it.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., II. iii. 193. Weele consecrate the steps that Ajax makes, When they goe from Achilles.
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 43. How many steps have I took in vain.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., II. 60. They had hardly made one step, when they returned with all speed.
1746. G. Adams, Microgr. Illustr., 142. A general Description of the common Steps a Polype makes in moving from Place to Place.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, VI. 349. He had the insolence to lay hands on me: And I made him take but one step from the top to the bottom of a pair of stairs.
1798. Sophia Lee, Canterb. T., Young Lady’s T., II. 503. He … made but one step from the door to the bed.
1842. Borrow, Bible in Spain, xxxii. Many is the weary step you will have to make before you reach Giyon and Oviedo.
1859. Tennyson, Elaine, 390. She stay’d a minute, Then made a sudden step to the gate.
† b. To make a short journey to (a place or person). Obs.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, I. IV. 144. Making a step into Gascony to Visit Madam de la Valette, his Mother.
1685. Evelyn, Mrs. Godolphin (1888), 217. Often have I knowne her privately slipp away … to make a stepp to some miserable poor sick Creature.
a. 1701. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1732), 1. Intending to make only a short step that Evening.
1733. Swift, Lett. to Lady B. Germain, 8 Jan. I … was resolved to take a step to Paris for my health.
† c. To perform a stage in a journey. Obs.
1695. trans. Misson’s Voy. Italy, II. 305. I … intend … only to run over the several Steps that we made in our Voyage.
1829. Scott, Anne of G., xix. That good Christians may bestow their alms upon him, and so make a step on their road to Heaven.
d. fig. To take a step or steps: to perform a move or moves in a course of action; to take action or measures towards attaining an end. Similarly to make a step or steps (now rare).
To take the necessary steps: often, to take the action prescribed by law as necessary to attain some implied object, e.g., the enforcement of a debt.
a. 1628. Preston, New Covt. (1634), 53. Thou takest not a steppe into any action … but it is ruled and over-ruled by the Lord.
1737. Gentl. Mag., VII. 150/1. These, Sire, are the principal Steps to be taken in order to reform your State.
1775. Sheridan, Duenna, III. i. How shall I entreat your pardon for the rash step I have taken?
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 44. James now took a step which greatly disconcerted the whole Anglican party.
1867. Trollope, Chron. Barset, II. xlvii. 33. He wishes that I should take some step in the matter.
1885. Law Rep. 10 App. Cases 386. The owner … has taken no steps to disabuse them of that belief.
1891. Leeds Mercury, 2 May, 6/5. Steps have already been taken to suppress this demoralising traffic.
1675. Temple, Wks. (1731), II. 340. This must be the first open Step that can be made towards the Peace.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1823), I. 333. To make some steps towards the bringing in of their new religion.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vii. II. 233. Every step which they made towards union increased the influence of him who was their common head.
1888. Fergus Hume, Mme. Midas, Prol. Come, let us make the first step towards our wealth.
7. The space traversed by the movement of one foot beyond the other in walking or running; a pace. Hence as a measure of length or distance, sometimes vague, sometimes defined, as military step (see quot. 1862).
c. 975. Rushw. Gosp., Matt. v. 41. Mille passus, þusend steppan [c. 1000 stapa].
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 147/23. Passus, stæpe.
c. 1250. Owl & Night., 1592. Vych stape hire þinkþ a Mile.
c. 1490. Botoner, Itin. (1778), 123. Navis continet 36 steppys meos; et longitudo chori continet circa 60 steppys.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 41 b. A lyttell brooke, called Sandyfforde, whyche is but a mans step ouer.
1663. Patrick, Pilgrim (1687), 304. I remember once that I met with a Man that thought he wanted not above two or three steps of the Gate of Jerusalem.
1703. Cibber, She wou’d, etc. IV. 56. Move but a step,… this Minute is thy last.
1711. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 15 May. It is two good miles, and just five thousand seven hundred and forty-eight steps.
1798. Wordsw., We are Seven, 39. Their graves are green, they may be seen,… Twelve steps or more from my mother’s door.
1862. W. Paterson, Treat. Milit. Drawing & Surv., 17. The military step of 30 inches, of which there are 2112 to a mile.
1887. Farrell, How he Died, 39. Not another step, or I’ll have to pot you!
fig. 1780. Mirror, No. 74. What if I should go a step further, and say [etc.]?
1847. Yeowell, Anc. Brit. Ch., iii. 23. Irenæus, who is but one step removed from St. John himself.
1856. N. Brit. Rev., XXVI. 49. This course of reasoning … might well have been pursued some steps further.
1859. Huxley, in Sci. Opinion, 5 May, 505/2. There is a long step from the demonstration of a tendency to the estimation of the practical value of that tendency.
1870. E. Peacock, Ralf Skirl., II. 147. The son went a step further than this.
b. With limitation or negative (expressed or implied): A very short distance; (only, even) the smallest distance.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Josh. x. 12. Ne gang þu mona onʓean Achialon anne stæpe furðor.
c. 1300. Cursor M., 17704. Ga þou noght o þi hus a stepe.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Sam. xx. 3. There is but one steppe betwene me & death.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 22. For within him Hell He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell One step no more then from himself can fly By change of place.
1781. Cowper, Retirement, 491. ’Tis such an easy walk…; A step if fair. Ibid. (1784), Ep. Joseph Hill, 26. ’Tis but a step, sir, just at the street’s end.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xii. I’ll slip on my hood and pattens, and gang to Mr Mac-Morlan mysell … it’s hardly a step.
1831. Westm. Rev., Jan., 232. There is but one step, said Napoleon, from the sublime to the ridiculous.
1845. Lady Dufferin, Irish Emigrant, 17. ’Tis but a step down yonder lane, The little Church stands near.
1876. Smiles, Sc. Natur., iv. 61. Edward did not know a step of the road.
c. A good, tidy, etc., step: a considerable walking distance. dial.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ., Fragm., II. 128. He had brought the little print of butter…; and as … he had a good step to bring it, he had [etc.].
1869. R. B. Peacock, Lonsdale Gloss., Step, a walking distance.
1888. Berkshire Gloss., s.v., ‘A goodish step’ means rather a long distance.
1894. Blackmore, Perlycross, 57. The field was a good step from the village.
† d. A square on a chess-board. Obs. rare.
1562. Rowbothum, Playe of Cheasts, A vj b. The king … hath libertie to assault thre roumes or stepps as he listeth.
8. [Partly fig. use of sense 12.] A degree in an ascending scale; a remove in an upward process; a grade in rank or promotion. To get the or one’s step (Mil.): to be promoted to the next higher grade.
In early writers often used where we should now say grade or degree.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gram., v. (Z.), 15. Positivus is se forma stæpe. Ibid. (c. 1000), Hom., II. 70. On Godes ʓelaðunge synd þry stæpas ʓecorenra manna.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 29134. Þar es steps thrin þat man mai fall wit-all in sin, egging, liging [Galba lyking], and consent.
1340. Ayenb., 46. Þe lecherie of herte zuo heþ vour stapes.
1577. Hanmer, Eusebius’ Anc. Eccl. Hist., III. xxxiii. 55. Obtayning the first stepp of Apostolical succession.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. iv. 301. They are as Children but one steppe below.
1601. Bp. W. Barlow, Serm. Paules Crosse, 30. I am not either a penny the richer or a steppe the higher for him.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., III. 168. A graduall expression, growing up to the height of its emphasis by foure steps.
1779. Mirror, No. 25. This contempt of authority, and affectation of fashion, has gone a step lower in my household.
1781. Cowper, Retirement, 722. One [friend] … Will stand advanc’d a step above the rest.
1801. G. Rose, Diaries (1860), I. 348. It might be desirable to confer the … step in the peerage on Lord Nelson.
1821. Scott, Lett., in Lockhart (1839), VI. 316. I trusted you would get the step within the twelve months that the corps yet remains in Europe.
1829. J. Donovan, trans. Catech. Counc. Trent, II. vii. After first tonsure, the next step is to the order of Porter.
c. 1830. Mrs. Sherwood, Houlston Tracts, III. lxxxi. 4. The housemaid … had been at the head of the sweeping-department,… and … by her going Anne was to get a step.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xxviii. ‘He and I were both shot in the same leg at Talavera.’ ‘Where you got your step,’ said George, with a laugh.
1892. Bierce, In Midst of Life, 124. Each had taken two steps upward in rank.
1902. S. Sheldon & H. Mason, Altern.-Current Machines, 207. Take readings thus by steps of five degrees throughout one complete cycle.
b. Mus. By step: by progression through a single degree of the scale (i.e., a tone or semitone).
1889. E. Prout, Harmony (ed. 10), vi. § 164. A second inversion may be approached either by leap … or by step … from the root position of another chord.
9. The mark or impression made by the foot on the ground; a footprint.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., 6/182. Euerech stape þat we stepen for-barnde onder ore fet…. For þe foule sunnes þat we duden ore stapen beoth euere i-sene.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 829. He sey the steppis brode of a lyoun.
c. 1400. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xxiv. He shall say the trace of an herte and eke of þe bucke,… and þat of þe stynkynge beestes, þat men calle vermynn, he shall clepe hem steppes.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 2889. Lo her the steppes of his stede, Evyn unto him thai wil the lede.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 152. And þer [he] laft þe steppus of hys fete þroste downe into þe hard erth, þat euer sythen has ben sen.
1530. Palsgr., 276/1. Steppe a print of ones fote, trac.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Peda & Pedatura, the steppe or token of a mannes foote.
1746. Francis, trans. Horace, Epist., I. i. 105. The Steps, that to thy Den Look forward all, but none return again.
† b. fig. A trace, vestige; a mark or indication left by anything material or immaterial. Obs. (Cf. FOOTSTEP 3.).
1382. Wyclif, Wisd. ii. 3. Oure lif shal passe as the step of a cloude. Ibid. (1388), Gen. xli. 21. Tho secounde ȝauen no steppe of fulnesse.
c. 1400. Love, Bonavent. Mirr., lviii. (Gibbs MS.), 113. Oure lorde reserued in hys gloryouse body þe steppes of hys woundes.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), II. 35. As ȝitte the stappes of that famose dyche remayne.
1565. Stapleton, Fortr. Faith, 132. Purging them from all steppes and tokens of Idolatry.
1578. J. Foxe, in Bk. Chr. Prayers, 26. Vnles among the far Ethiopians some old steps of Christianitie peraduenture doe yet remayn.
10. To walk in (or † tread) a person’s steps, to follow him as he walks; usually fig., follow his example. † Also in phrases of opposite sense, as to swerve from, shun, refuse one’s steps. The phr. to follow, († sue, † pursue) a person’s steps is perhaps to be referred in part to sense 5.
a. 1240. Ureisun, in O. E. Hom., I. 187. He mot foleȝi þine steapes þurh sar and þurh sorewe.
1382. Wyclif, Rom. iv. 12. To hem that suen the steppis [1534 Tindale, walke in the steppes] of the feith of our fadir Abraham.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), II. 343. Which folowenge the stappes of an oxe made a place, namenge hit Boetia. Ibid., V. 431. The doȝhters of the seide Romilda not foloynge the stappes of theire moder, but lovynge chastite.
c. 1480. Henryson, Test. Cres., 17. Thair fadirs steppis iustly to persewe.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, II. 1508. This Matilde, clerely refusyng The steppes of Sara … And other good matrons.
1538. Starkey, England, 145. In thys processe we wyl take nature for our exampul, and, as nere as we can, folow hyr steppys.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 169 b. Not to swarve from the steppes of the confession at Auspurge.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., 18. A good token is it … of good ground, where the Crowe and the Pye folowe in great number the plowe, scraping in the steppes of the Plowman.
1579–1752. [see TREAD v. 2 b].
a. 1586. Sidney, Ps. XVII. iv. Ledd by thy word, the rav’ners stepps I shun.
1695. Hickeringill, Lay-Clergy, Wks. 1716, I. 322. Arch-bishop Laud did but Lackey it after those, and followed their steps.
1714. Barrow’s Euclid, Pref. 2. Whose Steps I was obliged closely to follow.
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F., lix. VI. 72. The jackall … is said to follow the steps, and devour the leavings, of the lion.
1881. Illingworth, Serm., xi. 149. Thousands upon thousands … have taken courage from their example to follow in their steps.
† 11. The sole of the foot. Only as a rendering of L. vestigium. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Sam. xiv. 25. Fro the stap of the foot [a vestigio pedis] vnto the top, there was not in hym eny spot.
1609. Bible (Douay), Deut. xxviii. 65. Neither shal there be resting for the steppe of thy foote.
II. Something on which to place the foot in ascending or descending.
12. A flat-topped structure, normally made of stone or wood and some six or seven inches high, used, singly or as one of a series, to facilitate a person’s movement from one level to another.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter xliv. 9. A gradibus eburneis, from stepum elpanbaennum.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Exod. xx. 26. Nc ga þu on stapum to minum weofode.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10589. Þis maiden … Was on þis grece … On þe neþermast stepp don.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 740. In þulke … tour Þer stont a trone … Seuene steppes þer beoþ þer-to.
1426–7. Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905), 66. For a mason & his man … to make a stayer with iij stappes.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Scamnum,… a step or grise, wherby a manne gothe vp vnto a high bedde.
1554. trans. Doctr. Masse Bk., A iv b. Let there be a benediction of Salt and Water … made by the Priest at the step of the Chauncell.
1567–8. Fabric Rolls York Minster (Surtees), 114. For amending and repayring the greases or steppes before the southe doore, 6s.
1637. MS. Acc. St. John’s Hosp., Canterb., For a great stone to make a stiape vjd.
1705. [E. Ward], Hudibras Rediv., IV. 16. That dwels in Allies, God knows where, Down seven Steps, and up one Stair.
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 184. Each riser and tread, when fixed together, is called a step.
1847. C. Brontë, Jane Eyre, xvii. Adèle and I sat down on the top step of the stairs to listen.
1908. [Miss E. Fowler], Betw. Trent & Ancholme, 39. The steps down into the Fellows’ garden.
fig. 1604. Shaks., Oth., I. iii. 200 (Qo.). Let me … lay a sentence, Which as a greese or step may helpe these louers Into your fauour. Ibid. (1605), Macb., I. iv. 48. The Prince of Cuinberland! that is a step, On which I must fall downe, or else o’re-leape, For in my way it lyes.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xv. 106. Not like those Masters, who making their Colledges as steps to higher advancement will trample on them to raise up themselves.
b. The height or depth of this.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 271. This Hall was rais’d three Steps from the Ground.
1877. Jefferies, Gamekeeper at H., i. (1890), 5. Inside the door the floor of brick is a step below the level of the ground.
c. A foothold cut in a slope of earth or ice.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xi. 69. Cutting steps in the ice wherever climbing was necessary.
1871. E. Whymper, Scrambles amongst Alps, x. 230. He cut steps down one side of a sérac.
1892. C. T. Dent, Mountaineering, vi. 175. To cut traversing steps is harder than to cut steps down hill.
d. A flat projecting foot-piece, fixed or made to let down when wanted, for entering or alighting from a vehicle; also, a projecting bracket attached to a bicycle to rest the foot on when mounting.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., iv. The fat boy … let down the steps, and held the carriage door invitingly open.
1841. Thackeray, Gt. Hoggarty Diamond, iii. The carriage steps being let down.
1847. Lever, Knt. Gwynne, xvii. The steps were up, the door banged to,… and the next moment saw the chaise at the end of the street.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. iv. The young page … riding … on the step of my lady’s coach.
1877. H. H. Griffin, Bicycles of the Year, 8. The step is placed at a convenient distance from the ground, and at the portion of fork best suited to bear the rider’s weight.
1882. ‘Edna Lyall,’ Donovan, xxxi. By the time the newspaper boy had sprung down from the step [of a railway carriage].
e. Fortif. = BANQUETTE 1.
1672. Lacy, trans. Tacquet’s Milit. Archit., 18. The Step, or Banquet is built at the foot of all Brestworks on the inside, and is 3 feet thick or broad, and 11/2 feet high.
1834–47. J. S. Macaulay, Field Fortif. (1851), 303. To render the steps or traverses … available for the active, as well as passive defence.
13. A rung or stave of a ladder; each of the flat cross-pieces of a step-ladder.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, i. 22. Þonne bið he þam men ʓelic þe … stihð be þære hlæddre stapum oðþæt he to ðæm ænde becume.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, X. 361. He gert Sym of the Ledowss … or hempyn rapis ledderis ma, With treyn steppis bundin swa, That vald brek apon na kyn wiss.
1530. Palsgr., 276/1. Steppe or staffe of a lader, eschellon.
1548. Elyot’s Dict., Climacter, the rounde or step of a ladder.
1659. N. R., Prov., Eng. Fr., etc. 89. Step after step the Ladder’s ascended.
1674. Churchw. Acc. Pittington, etc. (Surtees), 236. A new ladder containing 31 stepps.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 153. Steps for the Ship’s side. The pieces of quartering, with mouldings, nailed to the sides amidships, about 9 inches asunder, from the wale upwards, for the convenience of persons getting on board.
1902. J. Oman, Vision & Authority, I. iv. 30. No step of the ladder by which man climbs equals the first.
b. pl. A step-ladder; also a pair or set of steps. colloq.
1693. Evelyn, De la Quint. Compl. Gard., II. 17. If that Branch be too high, he must get upon something, either a Ladder, or Steps, to the end that he may Cut it with ease.
1730. Inventory R. Woolley’s Goods (1732), 11. A Pair of wooden Steps.
1855. Trollope, Warden, xiv. 221. A pretty portable set of steps in one corner of the room.
1861. F. W. Robinson, No Church, I. I. ii. 66. A hammer, and nails, and a pair of steps. Ibid., 67. Steps, nails and hammer were quickly at the disposal of the stranger.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., Steps, a ladder for in-door use.
III. Transferred uses of sense 12.
14. Geol. A fault or dislocation of strata.
1789. J. Williams, Min. Kingd., I. 23. The single slips, or steps, for they are known by both names, are of various degrees of magnitude.
1824. G. Chalmers, Caledonia, III. ii. § 3. 53. This bed [of coal] … when clear of steps and dikes, which frequently occur, at thirty yards’ distance, dips one foot in twelve.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 965. Hitches are small and partial slips, where the dislocation does not exceed the thickness of the coal-seam; and they are correctly enough called steps by the miner.
1886. J. Barrowman, Sc. Mining Terms, 64. Step, a hitch or dislocation of the strata.
15. An offset or part resembling a step in outline, singly or in a series; e.g., in the bit of a key.
1674. Hooke, Animadv. Machina Coelestis, etc. 7. Unscrew the Plates, and place them in such order, that the Teeth may gradually follow each other,… and with such steps, that the last Tooth of one Degree, may within one step answer to the first Tooth of the next Degree.
1808. in Abridgm. Specif. Patents, Locks, etc. (1873), 17. The key moves the horizontal tumbler or tumblers to certain limit or limits by a step or steps cut in the key nose.
1813. Mawe, Diamonds (1823), 128. When cut in steps,… it [the peridot] will appear to the greatest advantage.
1815. Falconer’s Dict. Marine (ed. Burney), Step or Tongue, for the tar-kettle, in rope-making, is made of three inch oak plank [etc.].
1859. F. A. Griffiths, Artill. Man., Plate (1862), 112. Steps [of a gun-carriage].
1862. Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit., II. No. 6105. The ‘bits’ or steps on the ‘web’ of the key, that act on the levers inside the lock.
b. (See quot.)
1909. N. Hawkins’ Mech. Dict., Step of Screw, the distance between two adjacent threads, more commonly termed the pitch of the screw.
16. Naut. The block in which is fixed the heel of a mast or capstan.
c. 1000. in Cockayne, Shrine (1864), 35/15. Hiʓ fæstniað þone stepe þurh þa þilinge.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 474/2. Step, where a mast stant yn a schyppe, parastica.
1532. [see HOUND sb.2 1].
1644. Manwayring, Seamans Dict., 102. A Stepp. They call that peece of timber, which is made fast to the Keelson, wherein the maine-mast doth stand, a Stepp: Also those places, and timber, wherein the missen-mast, fore-mast, and the capstaine doe stand, are called Stepps.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 139. I fix’d my Umbrella also in a Step at the Stern, like a Mast.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 153. Steps for the Capstan. Solid lumps of oak, fixed on the beams, in which the heels of the capstan work.
1912. G. Forbes, in Blackw. Mag., Sept., 343/2. Our mast suddenly gave out, and, breaking at the step, went overboard.
17. Mech. a. The lower bearing or block on which a vertical pivot, shaft or the like rotates.
1814. Buchanan, Millwork (1823), 547. The bearings for pivots, at the lower extremity of upright shafts, are denominated steps.
1835. Ure, Philos. Manuf., 172. Their lower ends [of the spindles] are pointed conically, and turn in brass sockets called steps.
1847. Brees, Gloss. Civil Engin., Steps or Bearings, those parts which receive the lower gudgeons of upright shafts.
1860. Burn’s Gloss. Techn. Terms, 12. Step, a pedestal for carrying the brass or bush in which the lower end of a vertical shaft revolves.
b. The lower brass of a journal-box or pillow-block in which a horizontal shaft revolves; also, see quot. 1887.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech.
1887. D. A. Low, Machine Draw., 30. The brass bush [of a pillow block] … is in halves, called brasses or steps.
IV. 18. Comb.: step-bearing = sense 17; step-board, the tread or flat part of a wooden step: step-cut = TRAP-CUT; also as adj.; step-cutter, -cutting (see 12 c); step-dance, a dance intended for the display of special steps by an individual performer; hence step-dancer, -dancing; step-fashion adv. = step-wise; step-fault Geol., one of a series of parallel faults with successive falls like steps; also, the compound fault comprising such a series; step-girl, a girl who goes out cleaning doorsteps; step-grate, a furnace-grate having the bars arranged step-wise, to promote completeness of combustion; step-like a., like a step or a series of steps; step-plate, (a) Naut., in iron ships, a plate of iron upon which the mast-heel rests when fixed in position; (b) Mech., a metal bearing; step-pyramid, a monumental pyramid the faces of which are built so as to form a series of large steps; step-stile, a stile formed by steps projecting from a wall; step-stone, (a) a stepping-stone; now dial.; (b) a stone forming a door-step; step-vein (see quot.); † step-ward, the ward of a lock nearest the pin; also, the ward of a key nearest the pin or barrel; step-way, a way up or down a flight of steps; step-wheel, a wheel with an edge formed in twelve steps arranged spirally, used in striking-clocks; step-wise adv., like a series of steps.
1873. J. Richards, Wood-working Factories, 149. The *step-bearings for these machines should be as long and nearly as large in diameter as the top bearings.
1885. [Horner], Pattern Making, 226. The guide-ring plate E, carries the step bearing of the turbine shaft.
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 191. Proceed with all the succeeding risers and *step-boards until the winders are complete.
1865. H. Emanuel, Diamonds, etc. 98. The Trap or *Step Cut.
1905. C. Davenport, Jewellery, i. 19. A *step-cut diamond is like a table, only the flat top is much smaller in proportion, and the sides facetted in gradually decreasing sizes.
1884. Pall Mall Gaz., 10 June, 11/2. Kauffman … is, I believe, generally admitted to be the fastest *step-cutter living. Ibid., 11/1. It was a very steep bit of *step cutting.
1898. Encycl. Sport, II. 36/1. (Mountaineering) Ice-slopes and Step-cutting.
1886. St. James’s Gaz., 25 Sept., 6/2. Have they learned *‘step-dancing’?
1748. Richardson, Clarissa VI. 2. Half a dozen … boys behind him, ranged gradatim, or *step-fashion, according to age and size.
1879. Encycl. Brit., X. 305/2. Section of strata cut by *step faults.
1884. Peach & Horne, in Nature, 13 Nov., 35/1. The very preservation of the Durness Basin is due to two normal step-faults.
1884. All Yr. Round, 18 Oct., 32/1. It is not a pretty spectacle to see two girls—even *step-girls—toss of their hats and jackets, and ‘go’ for each other in pugilistic fashion.
1869. Crookes & Röhrig, Kerl’s Metallurgy, II. 372. Furnaces with *Step Grates.
1823. J. Parkinson, Outl. Oryctol., 225. Ostrea scalarina.… with transverse,… *step-like rugæ.
1855. Orr’s Circ. Sci., Inorg. Nat., 170. The high step-like terraces, by which one may descend nearly to the water’s edge.
1869. Sir E. Reed, Shipbuild., xv. 284. The mast steps of the new Indian troop-ships, in which the *step-plate has been worked directly upon the inner-skin plating.
1869. Rankine, Machine & Hand-tools, Pl. I 5, The two worms are … each of them provided with a spherically shaped step-plate, to insure a perfect fit on the rubbing surfaces next to the worms.
1886. Encycl. Brit., XX. 124/1. The *step-pyramid or cumulative mastaba.
1904. J. Derry, Across Derbysh. Moors, xii. (ed. 3), 116. A stone *step-stile crosses the wall on the right close beyond Stony Ford.
1605. Shuttleworths’ Acc. (Chetham Soc.), 169. For xv *steppstonnes for the starres of the said stable (vijd the steppe) viijs ixd.
1868. M. H. Smith, Sunshine & Shadow in N. York, 136. Ten men could not put her off that step-stone.
1881. Raymond, Mining Gloss., *Step-vein, a vein alternately cutting through the strata of country-rock, and running parallel with them.
1677. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., ii. 22. In Fig. 3. AAAA the Cover-plate [of a spring-lock],… E the *Step ward, or Dap ward. In Fig. 4. A the Pin-hole [of a key], B the Step or Dap ward.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), X. 111/2. To the cover-plate belong the pin, main-ward, cross-ward, step-ward or dap-ward.
1810. Hull Improv. Act, 51. Cellar-grate *step-way or hatch-way.
1906. H. G. Wells, In Days Comet, I. i. 26. We walked together up the narrow street outside his lodging, up the stepway and the lanes towards Clayton Crest and the highroad.
1714. W. Derham, Artif. Clock-m. (ed. 3), 7. The Snail, or *Step-Wheel in Repeating-Clocks.
1888. Widgery, Teaching Lang., 53. A useful plan for saving the time of the children is to work through the author set with a note-book cut *step-wise into an alphabet.
19. Combinations with an adv., as step-back, -down, -up = an act of stepping backwards, etc.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, III. xiii. 658. I begin to perceive a dimnes and weakenes in reading…. Loe—heere a steppebacke, and that very sensible.
1833. Reg. Instr. Cavalry, I. 17. The ‘Step Back’ is performed in the slow time and length of pace, from the halt.
