▪ I. † steem, n. Obs.
Also 6 steeme.
[Aphetic var. of esteem n. Cf. next.
It is noteworthy that the first two examples are much earlier than any known instance of the fuller form.]
Estimation, value.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 98 Þat may þou here in sir Tristrem; ouer gestes it has þe steem, Ouer alle that is or was. a 1380 St. Ambrose 893 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1878) 22 Þou schuldest þenke bi good steem Þou nart but riht as on of hem. 1588 Greene Alcida (1617) E 4, Of little steeme is Crystall being crackt. |
▪ II. † steem, v.1 Obs.
[Aphetic var. of esteem v.]
trans. To estimate, value.
| 1590 Greene Never too late ii. Wks. (Grosart) VIII. 120 The more it workes, the quicker is the wit; The more it writes, the better to be steem'd. 1592 Daniel Sonn. Delia iv, Wks. (Grosart) I. 39 These lines I vse, t' vnburthen mine owne hart; My loue affects no fame, nor steemes of Art. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. v. 3 Whilome it was..Dame Venus girdle, by her steemed deare, What time she vsd to liue in wiuely sort. 1642 H. More Song of Soul i. ii. 134 Is Honesty in such unruly fit That it's held in no rank? they 'steem it not awhit. |
▪ III. steem, v.2 dial. (Yorks.)
(stiːm)
[variant of steven v.]
trans. To obtain (goods) on credit; to order in advance, bespeak. Also, to pay a deposit upon goods bought.
| 1674 in Depos. York Castle (Surtees) 210 Thy father went to John Walker's to steime a pare of shooes, and he would not let him have them without he had money in his hand... Likewise he went to George Coppley's to steime a wastcoate cloth. 1674 Ray N.C. Words, To Steem: to bespeak a thing. 1862 C. C. Robinson Dial. Leeds, Steim, to bespeak. ‘Steimed a plaace fur t' meeting’. |
▪ IV. steem
obs. form of steam.