Emily Dickinson Lexicon

STERN'LY, adv. [See Stern.]

In a stern manner; with an austere or stern countenance; with an air of authority. Sternly he pronounc'd / The rigid interdiction. – Milton.

STERN'MOST, a. [stern and most.]

Farthest in the rear; farthest astern; as, the sternmost ship in a convoy. – Mar. Dict.

STERN'NESS, n.

1. Severity of look; a look of austerity, rigor or severe authority; as, the sternness of one's presence.
2. Severity or harshness of manner; rigor. I have sternness in my soul enough / To hear of soldier's work. – Dryden.

STERN'ON, n. [Gr.]

The breast bone. But sternum is chiefly or wholly used.

STERN'-PORT, n. [stern and port.]

A port or opening in the stern of a ship. – Mar. Dict.

STERN'-POST, n. [stern and post.]

A straight piece of timber, erected on the extremity of the keel to support the rudder and terminate the ship behind. – Mar. Dict.

STERN'-SHEETS, n. [stern and sheet.]

That part of a boat which is between the stern and the aftmost seat of the rowers; usually furnished with seats for passengers. – Mar. Dict.

STERN'UM, n. [Gr. στερνον; from fixing; setting. See Starch, Stark.]

The breast bone; the bone which forms the front of the human chest from the neck to the stomach.

STER-NU-TA'TION, n. [L. sternutatio.]

The act of sneezing. – Quincy.

STER-NU'TA-TIVE, a. [Fr. sternuo, to sneeze.]

Having the quality of provoking to sneeze.

STER-NU'TA-TO-RY, a. [Fr. sternutatoire, from L. sternuo, to sneeze.]

Having the quality of exciting to sneeze.

STER-NU'TA-TO-RY, n.

A substance that provokes sneezing.

STERN'-WAY, n. [stern and way.]

The movement of a ship backward, or wuh her stern foremost. – Mar. Dict.

STER-QUIL'IN-OUS, a. [L. sterquilinium, a dunghill.]

Pertaining to a dunghill; mean; dirty; paltry. – Howell.

STER-TO'RI-OUS, or STERT'O-ROUS, a. [L. sterto.]

Snoring. The last is the term almost invariably used.

STER'VEN, v.

to starve, not in use. – Spenser.

STETH'O-SCOPE, n. [Gr. στηθος, the breast, and σκοπεω, to examine.]

A simple cylinder of some fine-grained light wood, as cedar or maple, perforated longitudinally in the middle, with one extremity funnel-shaped and furnished with a conical plug; the other with a comparatively large orbicular ivory plate fastened by a screw. This instrument is used for distinguishing sounds within the thorax, and other cavities of the body, the funnel-shaped extremity, either with or without the plug, being placed upon the body, and the ivory plate to the ear of the listener. It is merely a substitute for the direct application of the ear, in cases in which this would be forbidden by delicacy. Stethoscope is an ill chosen term, since its application is not confined to the breast, and the termination scope does not well express its use. Phonophorus or sound-conductor, would be preferable.

STETH-O-SCOP'IC, a.

Pertaining to a stethoscope.

STEVE, v.t. [from the root of stow.]

To stow, as cotton or wool in a ship's hold. [Local.]

STE'VE-DORE, n.

One whose occupation is to stow goods, packages, &c. in a ship's hold. – New York.

STEV'EN, n. [Sax. stefnian, to call.]

An outcry; a loud call; a clamor. [Not in use.] – Spenser.

STEW, n.

1. A hot-house; a bagnio. The Lydians were inhibited by Cyrus to use any armor, and give themselves to baths and slews. – Abbot.
2. A brothel; a house of prostitution; but generally or always used in the plural, stews. – Bacon. South.
3. A prostitute. [Not in use.]
4. [See Stow.] A store pond; a small pond where fish are kept for the table. [Not used.]
5. Meat stewed; as, a stew of pigeons.
6. Confusion, as when the air is full of dust. [D. stuiven, to raise a dust; allied to stew, and proving that the primary sense of stew is to drive or agitate, to stir or excite.] [Not in use or local.] – Grose.

STEW, v.i.

To be seethed in a slow gentle manner, or in heat and moisture.

STEW, v.t. [Fr. etuver, to stew; etuve, a stove; It. stufare, to stew; stufa, a stove; stufo, weary, surfeited; Sp. estufa; a stove; estofa, stuff quilted; estofar, to quilt and to stew; D. stoof, a stove; stooven, to stew; Dan. stue, a room, (see Stow,) and stueovn, a stove; Sw. stufva, to stew and to stow.]

1. To seethe or gently boil; to boil slowly in a moderate manner, or with a simmering heat; as, to stew meat; to stew apples; to stew prunes. – Shak.
2. To boil in heat.

STEW'ARD, n. [Sax. stiward. Ward is a keeper; but the meaning of the first syllable is not evident. It is probably a contraction of G. stube, a room, Eng. stow, Sax. stow, place, or sted, place, or of Dan. stöb, a cup. The steward was then originally a chamberlain or a butler.]

1. A man employed in great families to manage the domestic concerns, superintend the other servants, collect the rents or income, keep the accounts, &c. See Gen. xv, 2; xliii, 19.
2. An officer of state; as, lord high steward; steward of the household, &c. – England.
3. In colleges, an officer who provides food for the students and superintends the concerns of the kitchen.
4. In a ship of war, an officer who is appointed by the purser to distribute provisions to the officers and crew. In other ships, a man who superintends the provisions and liquors, and supplies the table.
5. In Scripture and theology, a minister of Christ, whose duty is to dispense the provisions of the Gospel, to preach its doctrines and administer its ordinances. It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. – 1 Cor. iv.