steadfastness
(ˈstɛdfæstnɪs)
[f. steadfast a. + -ness.]
The quality of being steadfast.
1. Constancy or fixity in purpose, belief, fidelity, affection, etc.
| a 1000 Rit. Dunelm. (Surtees) 50 Virtute constantiæ, mæᵹne stydfæstnis. c 1220 Bestiary 182 Feste ðe of stedefastnesse, and ful of ðewes. c 1397 Chaucer Lack Stedf. 7 Al is loste for lac of stedfastnesse. 1508 Dunbar Gold. Targe 164 Scho led wyth hir Nurture and Lawlynes, Contenence, Pacience Gude Fame and Stedfastnes. 1526 Tindale 2 Pet. iii. 17 Beware lest ye..fall from youre owne stedfastnes. 1631 Gouge God's Arrows iii. §23. 225 He would with the best stedfastnesse of faith that he could pray for them. 1707 Lond. Gaz. No. 4308/1 His Steadfastness in their Interest might be depended on. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xx. IV. 389 Middleton adhered to the cause of hereditary monarchy with a stedfastness which [etc.]. 1876 M. E. Braddon J. Haggard's Dau. x. II. 21 The man who is without steadfastness will neither do good to others nor to himself. |
† 2. Established or permanent condition. Obs.
| c 1450 Godstow Reg. 343 We, grauntyng and in stedfastnesse havyng, and our forseid present of witnesse, conferme and strengthe the yifte which we have I-made. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 819 The Duke and the Bishop declared what thing was deuised..for to set the realme in a quiet stedfastnesse. |
3. In physical sense: Fixity in position. arch.
| a 1542 Wyatt Ps. xxxviii. 14 Nor in my bonis there is no stedfastnes. 1787 Smeaton in Phil. Trans. LXXVII. 320 A stand of such solidity and steadfastness that the telescope might preserve the position in which it was placed. 1827 H. Steuart Planter's G. (1828) 65 The steadfastness of the plants, in consequence of their fastenings..almost precluded contingency. 1868 Morris Earthly Par. I. i. 267 And forward did the mighty waters press As though they loved the green earth's steadfastness. |
4. Steadiness or fixity (of gaze).
| 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 84 Hee taketh his yong when as they be yong and tender, and haue not ful stedfastnesse in their eies. 1647 Fuller Good Th. Worse T. 50 For our Saviour glancing his Eyes at the Peoples instruction, did no whit hinder the steadfastnesse of his lookes, lifted up to his Father. 1847 C. Brontë J. Eyre xxx, There was..a decided steadfastness in his gaze now. |