[f. STEWARD sb.]
1. trans. To manage, administer.
1621. Bp. H. King, Serm., 25 Nov. To Rdr. L 3 b. Whether I haue vprightly stewarded his honour, and my owne faith, I leaue to the strict iudgement of any who are able to … discerne Truth from Imposture.
1626. J. Yates, Ibis ad Cæsarem, I. To Rdr. The Athenian Commander,… having ill stewarded the Treasury of the Commonwealth.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, II. xxxi. (1640), 85. Did he thus requite his mothers care in stewarding the State?
1905. Daily Chron., 22 Sept., 4/6. A race … who may … steward aright the mighty heritage which is passing into their hands.
2. intr. To do the duties of a steward.
1897. J. Chalmers, in R. Lovett, Autobiog. & Lett. (1902), 434. We have with us two boys to cook and steward for us.
Hence Stewarding vbl. sb.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par. Luke vi. 17–19. To whom the dispensacion & stewardyng of goddes woorde is to be committed.
1602. Archpriest Controv. (Camden), I. 232. Every baker or brewer, for stewarding and treasuringe … must, by this newe device, be made equall with you.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., IV. xii. As for stewarding, I think it’s time my brother gave that up.
