stirv.

Brit.

/stəː/, U.S.

/stər/

Forms: Inflected stirred, stirring. Forms: α. Old English styrian, Middle English sturie (Middle English styry), Middle English sture, Middle English–1700s stire, Middle English–1500s styrre, Middle English–1600s stirre, Middle English–1500s sterre, Middle English–1700s styre, Middle English–1500s styr, Middle English–1600s stur(re, 1500s–1600s stirr, Middle English– stir. β. Middle English–1600s stere, Middle English steore, Middle English steri(e, Scottish steyr(e, Middle English–1500s ster, (Middle English infinitive stern), Middle English–1600s Scottish steir, Middle English stear, steure, Middle English–1500s stier(e, (Scottish steire), Middle English–1800s (chiefly Scottish and northern) steer, 1500s steere, 1500s–1600s steare. γ. Middle English storie, Middle English storre, Middle English–1500s store, 1500s stoure, stowre, stoore.

Etymology: Old English styrian corresponds to Middle Swedish styra or styria (once; the reading is doubtful), Norwegian styrja to make a disturbance (? Danish for-styrre to disturb, influenced by German verstören ) < Germanic type *sturjan , related to *sturi-z (masculine), a stir, disturbance (Old Norse styr-r , Norwegian styr ); the same Germanic root, according to some scholars, appears in *sturmo-z storm n. An ablaut-variant *staurjan is believed to be represented in Old Frisian to-stêra, Old Saxon to-stôrian to destroy (Middle Dutch, modern Dutch storen to disturb), Old High German stôrren, stôran (Middle High German stœren, Low German, modern German stören to disturb, whence Swedish störa). For the phonology of the β forms (chiefly northern), compare speer v.¹, where the northern form is the only one common in literary use, and is therefore adopted as the typical form in the Dictionary.

I. Transitive senses.

a. To move, set in motion; esp. to give a slight or tremulous movement to; to move to and fro; to shake, agitate.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > cause to move [verb (transitive)]

stira1023

icchec1175

wawc1290

movea1382

remble1579

rouse1582

agitate1592

act1597

to put in (also into, to) motion1597

activate1624

actuate1641

animate1646

ferment1667

to feague away1671

to carry about1680

excite1694

jee1722

bestir1813

emotion1831

to set on1855

send1864

motion1929

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > agitate [verb (transitive)] > stir

stira1023

to stir up1340

rowa1400

rore1440

rout?1440

rummage1591

rumble1724

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > vibration > vibrate [verb (transitive)] > shake

reseeOE

swengea1000

shakeOE

stira1023

rogglea1398

bitaltc1400

rogc1400

shigc1440

warble1510

brangle1513

shatter1533

wap1570

goggle1576

esbrandill1588

concute1599

quakea1616

beshake1664

α.

a1023 Wulfstan Homilies xlix. 255 Ic mine hearpan genam and mine strengas styrian ongan.

c1220 Bestiary 520 Storm stireð al ðe se.

a1400 King & Hermit 477 The frere gaff hym a bow in hond... He myȝt oneth styre þe streng.

c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 6 Þe watyr in þe se is styred wyth þe wynde.

1536 Storys & Prophesis Script. M j The earthe hath bene styrred and hath quaked.

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. ii. 4 When a thing lies still, unlesse somewhat els stirre it, it will lye still for ever.

1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna iii. xxx. 72 The shrill sea-wind, whose breath idly stirred My hair.

1847 G. P. R. James Convict iv A brisk gale stirring the air.

1887 F. Francis Saddle & Mocassin 123 ‘Get up, or I'll beat the stuffing out of you!’ he says mildly, stirring the reins at the same time.

β. c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame 817 Euerych ayre other stereth More and more and speche vpbereth.?1527 Iudycyall of Vryns ii. viii. 34 Whan..the humours be moche Agitat and moued and stered in the vessels.1567 A. Golding tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) v. f. 62 Calliope..with hir thumbe gan steare The quiuering strings.?1615 G. Chapman tr. Homer Odysses (new ed.) xxi. 324 He warm'd and suppl'd it, yet could not stere To any draught, the string [of the bow], with all his Art.

b. To move (a limb or member); chiefly, now almost always, in negative or similar expressions: to make any or the slightest movement with.to stir one's stumps: see to stir one's stumps at stump n.¹ 1c. †to stir one's tail (Sc. obsolete), to bestir oneself, make a disturbance.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > bodily movement > move (the body or a member) [verb (transitive)] > move (a member)

stir?c1225

wawc1290

remove1483

wag1596

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > stir up or rouse up

stirc1000

aweccheOE

stirc1175

arear?c1225

awakec1315

amovec1330

araisec1374

wake1398

wakenc1400

to stir upa1500

incend?1504

to firk upc1540

bestir1549

store1552

bustlea1555

tickle1567

solicitate1568

to stir one's taila1572

exsuscitate1574

rouse1574

suscitate1598

accite1600

actuate1603

arousea1616

poach1632

roust1658

to shake up1850

to galvanize to or into life1853

to make things (or something specified) hum1884

to jack up1914

rev1945

α.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 105 Ase brid hwenne he fleon wule stureð hise wengen.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 8702 He..sturede [c1300 Otho storede] his tunge al-se he bede sunge.

1388 J. Wyclif Psalms xxi[i]. 8 Alle men seynge me scorneden me; thei..stiriden the heed.

c1440 Alphabet of Tales 96 He garte bynd hym þer so with rapis, þat he myght nowder stur hand nor fute.

1547 W. Baldwin Treat. Morall Phylos. i. xviii. sig. Ev Socrates..vsed somtyme through vehemencie of hys communication, to shake his hand, and styrre his fynger.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. vii. sig. Ii7 Vnable to arise, or foot or hand to styre.

1676 C. Hatton in E. M. Thompson Corr. Family of Hatton (1878) I. 134 They..soe bruised his arme y^t he wase never able to stirr it after.

1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 369. ¶9 The Gods..do not stir their Feet, nor proceed Step by Step.

1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward II. x. 244 ‘I will not stir a foot’, said the Countess, obstinately.

1825 W. Scott Talisman iii, in Tales Crusaders III. 77 Thy companion had been slain by thy side,..without thy stirring a finger in his aid.

1887 J. Payn Holiday Tasks 65 Sometimes he would sign anything in the most obliging manner, and sometimes refuse to stir a finger.

β. 1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xvii. 54 He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde ne stere fote ne handes.c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 116 He þat..with spekyng sterys his hondes, he ys fowl, eloquent, and deceyuant.a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in Wks. (1848) II. 331 Hir Uncles war begyning to steir thair taill [v.r. taills], and to truble the hoill Realme of France.a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 412 Auchtorite nor power spreitwall..micht nocht that tyme prevaill quhan Dame Curia began to steir hir taill.1609 J. Skene tr. Baron Courts in Regiam Majestatem xv. 104 b The quhilk partie, sall say, in this maner incontinent, fra the dome be given or he steir his taes, quhere his heill stude.

†c. To move about (something held in or grasped by the hand); to wield (a weapon); to brandish, flourish; to actuate, manage, ply (an instrument or mechanical appliance). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > move in specific manner [verb (transitive)] > flourish or brandish

shakec1000

stirc1275

wagc1300

brandisha1340

flourishc1384

swinga1400

swinglec1450

ruffle?1562

sweak1567

vambrash1577

sway1590

swinge1605

to fetch about1609

wave1609

wheel1617

evibrate1654

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1099 Heo stureden [c1300 Otho storeden] heora wepnan.

c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 331 Now hatȝ Arthure his axe, & þe halme grypeȝ, & sturnely sturez [MS reads stureȝ] hit aboute.

1575 G. Gascoigne Glasse of Gouernem. 2nd Chorus sig. F To stir an ore, in euery forward boate.

1603 J. Davies Microcosmos 145 He..left a Sonne..Who being yong, could not yet stirre the sterne.

1607 W. Alexander Julius Cæsar ii. i. S 1 Th' insolent..Stirre now their tongues, as we did then our swords.

†d. To send forth, utter, cause to be heard (a voice or sound); also, to make (a gesture). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > thing heard > make sound [verb (transitive)]

stira1000

sendc1200

movea1382

raisec1400

demean1483

emit1826

society > communication > indication > gesturing or gesture > make gestures [verb (transitive)]

givec1175

stirc1614

a1000 Boeth. Metr. xiii. 49 Þonne hi geherað hleoðrum brægdan oðre fugelas, hi heora agne stefne styriað.

a1300 Cursor Mundi 24101 Mi steuen þat i was wont to stere, Vn~nethes moght i self it here.

c1614 W. Mure tr. Virgil Dido & Æneas ii. in Wks. (1898) I. 529 So still he stands, nor voyce nor gesture steirs.

†e. To cause to move along or away; to drive, convey, impel; also figurative. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)]

driveeOE

sendc950

stira1300

enforce1340

swayc1400

compel1447

force1582

impel1611

impulse1611

to set gone?1611

to knock on1642

pulse1666

command1680

a1300 Cursor Mundi 29546 Cursing..steres his cristendame fro, and liuers him to þe find his foo.

c1410 Sir Cleges 150 Sche hym comforttyd..Hys sorowe away to stere.

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 3709 A shippe, Þat was stird with the storme streght out of warde.

1575 T. Churchyard 1st Pt. Chippes f. 93 ^v Your dealyngs rash, and wretched reuels rued With sticks did stoer, from hiue the quiet Bees.

f. To move (something) from its place; to shift, displace. Chiefly (now always) with negative or its equivalent (implying ineffectual effort): (to be unable) to move or shift in the slightest degree. ? Now rare or Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)]

stira1000

unsheathec1374

removea1398

shifta1400

disroom1489

supplant1534

unplacec1550

displace1552

unperch1578

dislodge1579

unsiege1594

disnest1596

unroost1598

unset1602

unseat1611

dis-element1612

dishabita1616

dislocate1623

disroota1625

disseata1625

rede1638

discardinate1648

disturb1664

disblock1665

start1676

uproot1695

disrest1696

disconcert1744

disannul1794

deplace1839

delocalize1855

disembed1885

disniche1889

α.

a1000 Boeth. Metr. vii. 25 Swa bioð anra gehwæs monna modsefan miclum awegede, of hiora stede styrede.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 8686 Ȝif ȝe hine [sc. a stone] maȝen sturien.

c1330 Arth. & Merl. 2832 King Nanters..No miȝt it [sc. the sword] drawe out of þe ston, Ne no gentil man of priis No miȝt it ones stiren.

c1450 Mirk's Festial 274 He layde hond to Martyns body,..but he myght not sture hit by no craft þat he cowthe.

a1628 J. Preston Breast-plate of Faith (1630) 57 If you take other metall than Iron, the Load-stone will not stirre it.

1700 Moxon's Mech. Exercises: Bricklayers-wks. 42 Take away the Center Rule, but stir not the Wainscot.

1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 144 A great Block of hard Wood..as big as I had Strength to stir.

1759 R. Jackson Hist. Rev. Pennsylvania Add. iv Laying heavy Burdens on Men's Shoulders, which they themselves would not stir with a single Finger.

β. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Wisd. iv. 19 He shal..stern hem [L. commovebit; a1425 L.V. moue hem] fro the foundemens.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 16568 Þeþen moght þai for na might it stere a fote o strete.1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) v. l. 425 The Gask hall standand..With-out harme, nocht sterd off it a stane.1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos v. sig. N.j^v Your prises certayn ben, shall no man them from order stere.

g. To rouse or disturb with a push.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > impact > striking > striking in specific manner > strike in specific manner [verb (transitive)] > strike with pushing action > give a push to

poteOE

puta1225

duncha1250

wag1377

pusha1450

jut1565

jog1589

stir1590

jolt1611

hunch1659

shtup1987

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. v. sig. Q4^v His steed..fomed yre, When with the maistring spur he did him roughly stire.

a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 323 The rams would keep moving and stirring the ewes all night in the fold.

1891 R. Kipling Light that Failed ix. 194 Binkie turned over on his back on the hearth-rug, and Dick stirred him with a meditative foot.

2. reflexive. To move oneself or one's limbs; to move or walk about; to take bodily exercise; to move from one's place. (Rarely of inanimate things.) Now rare or Obsolete; replaced by the intransitive use (11, 12).

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > bodily movement > move body or members [verb (reflexive)]

stirc888

move?a1425

disturb1831

c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxxv. §7 Þa stanas hi styredon for þy swege.

c1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 316 He sceal gan & hyne styrian.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 5138 He miht noght stir him of þat sted.

1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur viii. viii. 284 He myȝt not..vnnethe stere hym of his lymmes.

1561 J. Hollybush tr. H. Brunschwig Most Excellent Homish Apothecarye f. 44^v Let him walke and steare himself without ceasynge.

1705 F. Fuller Medicina Gymnastica 25 The more a Man stirs himself, the more Animal Spirits are made in the Brain.

1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust II. ii. iii. 141 Stir yourselves, ye whispering rushes.

3. To agitate with the hand or an implement so as to alter the relative position of the parts of:

(a) a liquid, or a soft or semi-liquid mass; esp. to agitate with a more or less circular continuous movement, as with a spoon, so as to mix the particles or promote solution of solid matter; also (rarely) to ‘trouble’, render turbid. Also with adverb, as about, round.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > liquid > [verb (transitive)] > stir up or render turbid

stirc1000

blend1384

trouble1579

puddle1593

mud1594

muddy1617

drummle1635

blunder1655

muddy1669

muddle1676

inturbidate1684

to shake up1753

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] > by kneading, stirring, etc. > by stirring

stirc1000

to stir up1340

stira1475

card1591

coil1674

α.

c1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 76 Styre mid sticcan.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 8936 Ilk dai..þar lighted dun.. Angels,..For to stir þe stang.

c1440 Pallad. on Husb. xii. 588 Let stire hit wel and aysel mynge into.

?1530 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry (rev. ed.) f. xxii Put all in to the sayd panne and styrre it aboute.

1553 R. Horne tr. J. Calvin Certaine Homilies i. sig. Dviij^v But what nede we herin to stirre the truth, as yf we shuld bloundre and trouble a water that is pure and clear.

1579 S. Gosson Schoole of Abuse f. 3^v Amplifying that, which the more it is stirred, the more it stinkes.

1640 T. Brugis Marrow of Physicke ii. 151 Set them off the fire, and with the backe of a Spoone, stirre them.

1769 E. Raffald Experienced Eng. House-keeper viii. 201 Keep stirring it gently all the Time.

1807 W. Wordsworth Resolution & Independence in Poems I. 94 He the Pond Stirred with his Staff, and fixedly did look Upon the muddy water.

1905 R. Bagot Passport xxi. 212 Idly stirring her little cup of black coffee.

1915 ‘F. Anstey’ Percy 121 To be home in time to stir our Christmas pudding.

β. 1375 in Horstmann Altengl. Leg. (1878) 138/1 God sente eche day an angel..And to þat tre he wente..Þe water þanne sterede ful son.c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 85 Lat þe sethinge be steryd and strenyd to it bycome cleer.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ezek. xxxii. 12 The catell..shal come no~more vpon the waters: so that nether mans fote ner beastes clawe, shal stere them eny more.1786 R. Burns Holy Fair xx, in Poems 50 Sit round the table..An' steer about the toddy.1878 R. De B. Trotter Galloway Gossip Sixty Years Ago (ed. 2) 222 He had yin Micht a served for a spurtel for steerin his brose.

(b) To mix (in, together, etc.) by stirring.

ΘΚΠ

stirc1000

to stir up1340

stira1475

card1591

coil1674

a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 30 Do wyne þerto and venegur gode, Sture hom wele togeder.

1599 A. M. tr. O. Gaebelkhover Bk. Physicke 180/1 Take..whyt leade, & stirr it therin.

1599 A. M. tr. O. Gaebelkhover Bk. Physicke 183/1 Then stirr them al together, & let it stand.

c1770 H. Glasse Compl. Confectioner 17 Stir in the sugar by degrees.

1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. vi. 173 More water should then be added, and the whole stirred together.

1915 ‘F. Anstey’ Percy 124 The tokens were bound to turn up, as I had stirred them well into the pudding with my own hand.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > move irregularly or be agitated [verb (intransitive)] > stir (through, in, among, etc.)

pudder1601

stir1712

kirn1869

1712 P. Motteux 2nd Pt. Don Quixote (1749) III. xii. 91 The more ye stir, the more 'twill stink.

1804 ‘Ignotus’ Culina 150 When held over the fire, stir only one way.

1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel The more you stir in it the more it stinks.

b. a collection of solid bodies or particles; esp. to poke (burning coals, a fire) so as to promote combustion. to stir coals (fig.): see coal n. Phrases 3b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > agitate [verb (transitive)] > stir > solid bodies or particles

stira1325

α.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3580 He..dede ðat calf melten in fir, And stired it al to dust sir.

c1386 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Prol. & Tale 725 He stired the coles.

?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Hiv To styre the fire, tiser.

1765 Museum Rusticum 4 467 The [flax] seed..must be stirred every two or three days.

1888 ‘J. S. Winter’ Bootle's Children ii. 13 Seizing the poker and stirring the fire vigorously.

β. 1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos v. sig. O.iij He steres the sleping brandes, And Troian sacred fyer.a1794 Donocht-Head 21 in Burns' Wks. (1809) IV. 176 I'll steer my fire, I'll make it bleeze a bonnie flame.1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads I. 348 He steer'd the ingle, and dichtit his beik.

c. soil or earth, as with an agricultural implement; spec. to plough across the furrows made by a former ploughing.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > breaking up land > break up land [verb (transitive)] > stir soil

stir1483

ameuble1725

α.

1483 Cath. Angl. 365/1 To Styr lande, barectare.

?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xlvii He wolde haue his landes plowed, donged, sturred, or sowen.

1686 tr. J. Chardin Trav. Persia 125 The Earth had been stirr'd.

1731 J. Tull New Horse-houghing Husbandry 116 This Sort of Land must not be stirred, i.e. ploughed the second time in wet Weather.

1842 J. C. Loudon Suburban Horticulturist 127 There is no mode of stirring the soil, whether by picks, forks, or hoes, which may not be performed with this implement [spade].

β. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. x^v The rayne shall bete y^e lande so flatte, bake it so harde togyther that & a drye May come it wyll be to harde to stere in the moneth of June.1843 Hardy in Hist. Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 2 No. 11. 63 The ground for the barley crop..required to be twice..ploughed; once in the back end, and again in spring,—the latter process being termed ‘steering the barley seed.’

4. figurative. To move from a fixed or quiet condition; to disturb, trouble, molest; to put into tumult or confusion, to upset. Obsolete exc. dialect, or as merged in other senses.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > commotion, disturbance, or disorder > throw into commotion or disorder [verb (transitive)]

stirc950

disturbc1290

troublec1330

turmoil1530

to set cock on the hoopa1549

garboil1572

blend1594

irrequiate1598

storm1609

uproara1616

embroil1619

dissettle1631

unsettle1651

hurly-burly1678

unhinge1679

disrest1726

commote1852

α.

c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Mark v. 35 Huætd lengc styres ðu [L. vexas] ðone laruu?

1154 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) ann. 1140 Þa was al Engle land styred mar þan ær wæs.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 196 Schuldest þu..naut grimme þein heorte & sturien into wreððe.

a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xii. 5 If þai stire vs fra stabilnes of thoght.

c1400 Laud Troy Bk. 4868 That the Gregeis vs not sterre, To take oure toun with arte and scleght.

1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor Induct. sig. Bii I will not stirre your patience.

a1607 H. Chettle Trag. Hoffman (1631) sig. B 2 Sweare..to ayd assist me, not to stirre Or contradict me in any enterprise.

c1620 Hist. Feuds & Confl. Clans (1818) 31 Angus Macconald,..did not stir the pledges [hostages], who were innocent of what was done unto his lands in his absence.

1637 J. Milton Comus 13 I doe not thinke my sister..So unprincipl'd..As that the single want of light, and noise..Could stir the constant mood of her calme thoughts.

β. c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde i. 228 (Harl. 1239) He..wende nothyng had hade suche myght A-ȝen his wille that schulde his hert stere.c1394 P. Pl. Crede 829 Studye þou nouȝt þeron ne stere þi wittes.c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Gouernaunce of Princis (1993) i. 62 He yat all steris and misgouernis.a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Trial of Fox l. 929 in Poems (1981) 39 My micht is merciabill And steiris nane that ar to me prostrait.a1563 J. Bale King Johan (1969) i. 852 I pray the, sedycyon, my pacyens no more stere.1786 R. Burns Twa Dogs xxvii, in Poems 19 Nae cauld nor hunger e'er can steer them.1816 W. Scott Old Mortality xiii, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. IV. 275 Nane durst steer me when he was in power.

a. To rouse from rest or inaction; to excite to movement or activity.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > stir up or rouse up

stirc1000

aweccheOE

stirc1175

arear?c1225

awakec1315

amovec1330

araisec1374

wake1398

wakenc1400

to stir upa1500

incend?1504

to firk upc1540

bestir1549

store1552

bustlea1555

tickle1567

solicitate1568

to stir one's taila1572

exsuscitate1574

rouse1574

suscitate1598

accite1600

actuate1603

arousea1616

poach1632

roust1658

to shake up1850

to galvanize to or into life1853

to make things (or something specified) hum1884

to jack up1914

rev1945

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 5845 Þurrh þatt te faderr gaþ þær to. & stireþþ itt. & waccneþþ.

c1550 Battle of Otterburn iii, in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1889) III. vi. 295/1 Vpon Grene Lynton they lyghted dowyn, Styrande many a stage.

1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 585 The Leopard when he was stirred ranne too and fro distracted.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. i. 175 Nay, then 'tis time to stirre him from his trance.

1816 W. Scott Antiquary III. vii. 143 He's steered the town to get awa' an express to fetch his carriage.

1829 W. Scott Anne of Geierstein III. iii. 77 Follow forth your own..objects, without stirring a nest of hornets.

†b. To excite to activity, to stimulate (a bodily function, ‘humour’, etc.): also with the person as object. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > stir up or rouse up

stirc1000

aweccheOE

stirc1175

arear?c1225

awakec1315

amovec1330

araisec1374

wake1398

wakenc1400

to stir upa1500

incend?1504

to firk upc1540

bestir1549

store1552

bustlea1555

tickle1567

solicitate1568

to stir one's taila1572

exsuscitate1574

rouse1574

suscitate1598

accite1600

actuate1603

arousea1616

poach1632

roust1658

to shake up1850

to galvanize to or into life1853

to make things (or something specified) hum1884

to jack up1914

rev1945

c1000 [implied in: Sax. Leechd. II. 106 Sele him oft styrgendne drenc. (at stirring adj. 3a)].

c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 73 Somer tyme ys hoot and drye, and þanne þe rede colere ys steryd.

1493 Chastysing Goddes Chyldern (de Worde) vii. sig. Bii^v/1 The wyckyd humours ben styred. and make the stomocke replete.

1609 T. Dekker Guls Horne-bk. sig. F1 ^v Capon is a stirring meate sometime.

1686 tr. J. Chardin Trav. Persia 235 The Remedy..that kills in one Country, does but only stir a Man in another.

†c. to stir one's time: to make vigorous use of one's opportunity. Scottish. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > have the opportunity [verb (intransitive)] > take the opportunity

to make hay while the sun shines1546

to take occasion by the foretopa1577

to stir one's timea1578

to fill one's boots1969

a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) II. 30 Seing this devissioun amangis the nobilietie of Scotland, they steirit thair tyme and wssit thair weiris the mair scharpelie.

1591 R. Bruce Serm. Edinb. sig. S7^v His enemies were aloft, sturring their time, rageing in murther, oppression and bloode.

†6.

a. reflexive. To bestir oneself; to be active; to act briskly or energetically; in early use often, to fight valiantly. Obsolete (replaced by bestir; see also 14).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin an action [verb (reflexive)] > bestir oneself

stira1225

awakec1275

bestirc1300

bustlea1555

rouse1587

the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > engage vigorously [verb (reflexive)] > be brisk or active

stira1225

α.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 5084 Heo ferde forð-rihtes..& stureden heom-seoluen.

1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 3663 Þe king adde er among þe scottes ystured him uol wel.

c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 1082 He stird him as akniȝt.

1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 22^v Good husbandry lusteth him selfe for to stir.

β. a1300 Cursor Mundi 23757 If we stitli all wil vs ster, crist help sal be us ner.c1400 Gamelyn 515 Stere the, good Adam, and lat ther noon flee.1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur xviii. xvii. 755 When he was vpon his hors he stered hym fyersly.c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 60 [He] sa stoutly sterit him amang thame..yat thare durst nane cum on him, allane.γ. a1225 St. Marher. 14 Hwen..he letten me nawt, ne ne storið hamseolf,..ich leade ham..iþe ladliche lake of þe suti sunne.c1275 Laȝamon Brut 15254 Hahtliche ȝou storieþ.

b. To begin to act; to busy oneself to do something: = 14b. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin an action [verb (reflexive)] > bestir oneself > to do something

stirc1425

c1425 Engl. Conquest Ireland (1896) 86 None Iresshe-man ne durst hym styrre, wer to begynne.

1870 J. H. Burton Hist. Scotl. to 1688 V. lv. 341 The..French ambassador..stirred himself not only to keep this project alive, but to bring it to a practical conclusion.

a. To move to action, urge, incite, instigate, stimulate. Also formerly in weaker or more general sense: To prompt, induce, persuade.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > cause to move [verb (transitive)] > put in continuous or effective motion

stirc897

workOE

move?a1425

the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate

stirc897

putOE

sputc1175

prokec1225

prickc1230

commovec1374

baitc1378

stingc1386

movea1398

eager?a1400

pokec1400

provokea1425

tollc1440

cheera1450

irritec1450

encourage1483

incite1483

harden1487

attice1490

pricklea1522

to set on1523

incense1531

irritate1531

animate1532

tickle1532

stomach1541

instigate1542

concitea1555

upsteer1558

urge1565

instimulate1570

whip1573

goad1579

raise1581

to set upa1586

to call ona1592

incitate1597

indarec1599

alarm1602

exstimulate1603

to put on1604

feeze1610

impulse1611

fomentate1613

emovec1614

animalize1617

stimulate1619

spura1644

trinkle1685

cite1718

to put up1812

prod1832

to jack up1914

goose1934

the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate > bring about by incitement

stirc897

forthclepe?c1000

raisec1175

entice1297

rearc1325

excitea1340

arta1450

provocate?a1475

suscitate1528

to stir upc1530

provoke1535

store1552

concitea1555

upsteer1558

spirit1598

solicit1602

foment1606

fana1616

proritate1620

incite1627

ferment1660

spirita1680

brush1755

whip1805

to put (also set) (the) spurs to1819

fillipa1822

instigate1852

spark-plug1945

whomp1961

α.

c897 K. Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care 175 S[u]a sceal æghwelc lareow to anre lufan..mid mislicum manungum his hieremonna mod styrigean.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 105 Þe þencheð upward beoreð ham þet beoð of gode þeawes. þet ha mote sturien into gode werkes.

1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience Prol. 154 Som thyng..Þat myght styrre þam to gude lyfyng.

1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience Prol. 157 To knaw þat, myght þam stir and lede Til mekenes.

a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Deut. xxxii. 11 As an egle stirynge his briddis to fle [L. provocans ad volandum pullos suos].

1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. v. 122 To take away all the thynges that miht styre or meue his men to lecherye.

1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 8 b The onely namyng of theim, will stirre honest hartes, to speake well of them.

a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) ii. i. 63 An Ate [printed Ace] stirring him to bloud and strife.

1781 W. Cowper Charity 118 He..Imports what others have invented well, And stirs his own to match them, or excel.

1821 W. Scott Kenilworth I. xii. 294 Can ye not stir his mind to any pastimes?

1858 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (ed. 2) III. xiii. 163 The untruth of the stories by which they had been stirred to rebellion.

1893 H. D. Traill Social Eng. Introd. p. xxxii The Revival of Letters stirred the human mind into more vigorous activity.

β. 1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 5186 Hyt steryþ a man hym self to slo.138. J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 149 Who ever stere men to yvel lyfe.c1440 J. Capgrave Life St. Katherine v. 1679 Men wil wene that thou be ny wood To sle th[is] puple..And lete me scape whiche stered hem alle.c1470 in Som. & Dorset Notes & Queries (1905) Sept. 303 [He] provokid and stered his saide Dogge to renne uppon youre saide Bysecher.1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid vi. i. 102 To ask ansueris Now is the tyme; lo, lo, the God me steris!1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. 1 Pet. i. f. ii Being prouoked by no merites of ours, but stiered frely of his owne mercye.1657 T. Burton Diary (1828) I. 415 I hope, that neither the humour of..unwise people, nor yet..[etc.] shall steer me to give other than such an answer as may be ingenuous and thankful.

†b. To urge with a view to persuasion, try to persuade, exhort, entreat. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate > try to persuade

stirc1380

pressc1440

fanda1500

attempta1547

invite1548

procure1551

to threap (something) upon1571

to set upon ——1652

flog1793

α.

c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 41 I conseile, amoneste, and stire my freris.

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 177 Petir stireth tho same men for to haue pacience.

a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. P.viii This younge manne,..was importunately stirred by his naturall friendes.

1560 T. Ingelend Disobedient Child H j You hearde that by Sentences auncient and olde He styred his Sonne as he best thought.

β. c1440 Gesta Romanorum (Add. MS.) xlii. 127 A man..sterid his sone to gete hym frendes.1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer i. f. cccxxxiii Ofte gan Loue to sterne [read steren] me these wordes.1544 R. Tracy Supplycacion to Kynge Henry VIII sig. Aiiij The holy ghoste, which moueth & steareth vs euer to mortefye the fleshe.

a. To excite to feeling, emotion, or passion; to ‘move’, affect.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > quality of affecting the emotions > affect with emotion [verb (transitive)]

rineOE

afaite?c1225

stir?c1225

movea1325

amovec1380

inspire1390

commove1393

informa1398

toucha1400

embracec1430

rore1481

alter1529

to carry away?1529

raise1533

removea1540

heavec1540

affect?1548

carry1570

inmove1583

infecta1586

worka1616

unthaw1699

emove1835

emotionize1855

emotion1875

the mind > emotion > excitement > exciting > excite [verb (transitive)]

astirc1000

stir?c1225

araisec1374

entalentc1374

flamec1380

reara1382

raisec1384

commove1393

kindlea1400

fluster1422

esmove1474

talent1486

heavec1540

erect?1555

inflame1560

to set on gog1560

yark1565

tickle1567

flesh1573

concitate1574

rouse1574

warmc1580

agitate1587

spirit1598

suscitate1598

fermentate1599

nettle1599

startle1602

worka1616

exagitate1621

foment1621

flush1633

exacuatea1637

ferment1667

to work up1681

pique1697

electrify1748

rattle1781

pump1791

to touch up1796

excite1821

to key up1835

to steam up1909

jazz1916

steam1922

volt1930

whee1949

to fire up1976

geek1984

α.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 218 Asichðe þet þu sist oðer an lewi word þet þu mis herest. ȝef hit eawet stureð þe. cwenh hit wið teares water.

c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 2795 Alas! loue, wo dost þou me þov sturest al my blod.

1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Matt. xxi. 10 Whan he had entrid in to Jerusalem, al the cite was stirid, seyinge, who is this?

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke xv. 20 Whanne he was ȝit fer, his fadir syȝ him, and he was stirid [a1425 L.V. stirrid] by mercy.

c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xiii. 58 A wikked man..kest a brynnand fyrebrand at oure Lord for to stirre him til ire.

1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 92 b Anye one that myndeth by hys vtteraunce to stirre the hartes of menne.

1630 R. Norton tr. W. Camden Hist. Princesse Elizabeth i. 21 The Bishop of Rome..being now more stirred, commanded Sir Edwad Carne..to lay down his Office of Embassadour.

1799 W. Wordsworth Fountain 30 My eyes are dim with childish tears, My heart is idly stirred.

1866 A. Trollope Belton Estate I. ix. 219 Words..that really stir the soul, and bring true comfort to the listener.

1888 A. Jessopp Coming of Friars iii. 113 The story of a great man's life still stirs the heart.

β. a1400–50 Wars Alex. 4256 Leue ȝe noȝt we be to heȝe ne hauten of will..or sterid to enuy.c1480 (a1400) St. Martha 321 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 294 To compuncione þu [? read þe] suld steyre, þe instance of myn prayer sere.1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) clx. 235 By thyse wordes were the barons gretely stered and meuyd.1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 735/1 Beware thou stere him nat to anger.1581 A. Hall tr. Homer 10 Bks. Iliades iv. 66 Then Agamemn appeard No whit to yeelde,..or ought with feare was steard.γ. c1440 Gesta Romanorum (Harl.) xlvi. 181 Whenne Ionathas sawe hir, he was I-storid to an vnlawfull maner of love.

b. To affect with strong emotion; to move strongly (a person, his spirit, ‘blood’, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > passion > affect with passion or strong emotion [verb (transitive)]

passion1467

stir1490

passionate1566

appassionate1589

impassion1591

earnest1603

impassionatea1641

to move a person's blood1697

1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) ii. 15 That sore mouyd and styryd his noble and hyghe corage.

1619 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Maides Trag. i. sig. B1^v The musicke must be shrill and all confus'd That stirs my blood.

1823 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto VIII lv. 138 So was his blood stirred while he found resistance.

1905 R. Bagot Passport xxvi. 279 The news of Sor Beppe's dismissal from the office of fattore had stirred public opinion in and around Montefiano to its depths.

9. To excite, occasion.

a. To excite or provoke (passion); to prompt, evoke or occasion (anger, hatred, affection, suspicion, also †laughter, fear, etc.); formerly in wider use, †to occasion (an event, mental or bodily condition).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > quality of affecting the emotions > affect with emotion [verb (transitive)] > cause or give rise to an emotion

rearOE

arear?c1225

annoyc1300

movea1325

excite1393

raisea1400

lighta1413

stirc1430

provokec1450

provocate?a1475

rendera1522

to stir upc1530

excitate?1549

inspire1576

yield1576

to turn up1579

rouse1589

urge1594

incense1598

upraisea1600

upreara1600

irritate1612

awakena1616

recreate1643

pique1697

arouse1730

unlull1743

energize1753

evocate1827

evoke1856

vibe1977

α.

c1000 Ælfric Homilies II. 298 Ne dranc he wines drenc, ne nan ðæra wætena þe druncennysse styriað.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 148 Þe..is of unvte speche. ȝelpeð..gabbeð..stureð lachtre.

c1430 in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems 197 To stire mi wraþþe þou wolt a-saye.

c1450 Mirk's Festial 158 Forto styre your deuocyon.

1538 T. Elyot Dict. Conflare inuidiam, inimicitias, odium, to stire or procure enuy, hostilitie, hate.

1580 E. Knight Triall of Truth f. 15^v This part of Scripture may iustly stirre a feare in vs.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 308 Each Tree Load'n with fairest Fruit,..stirr'd in me sudden appetite To pluck and eate.

1760 R. Lloyd Actor 195 A fault which stirs the critic's rage.

1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward III. iii. 77 If nothing occurs to stir the rage of this vindictive madman, I am sure of victory.

1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iv. 65 Blissful palpitations in the blood, Stirring a sudden transport rose and fell.

1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 5 Antipathy against Voltaire to a degree, that..must now and then have even stirred a kind of reacting sympathy.

β. 1430–40 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1554) v. i. 114 Husbandes..had in maner a suspeccion Stiered by the serpent of false gelousye Toward Spurina.?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 6627 Þat sight sterid his deuocioun.1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid i. x. 7 Within hir banis grene The hote fyir of luif to kendle and steir.a1586 Sir P. Sidney Astrophel & Stella xxv Vertue..with vertuous care to ster Loue of herselfe, tooke Stella's shape.γ. 1558 W. Forrest Hist. Grisild the Second (1875) 72 Synne, sore of Kyngis, stoorthe Goddys malediction.

†b. To instigate, set going, set on foot (strife, commotion, etc.). Obsolete: cf. Phrasal verbs e.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > lack of subjection > rebelliousness > sedition > incite revolt or strife [verb (transitive)]

stira1023

kindlea1400

enkindle1582

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > stir up or rouse up > specifically a thing or condition

stira1023

movea1382

energize1753

rouse1786

poke1851

α.

a1023 Wulfstan Homilies xviii. 106 Saca and wraca he styrede gelome.

c1175 Lamb. Hom. 113 He ne flit mid cheste ne he sake ne sturað.

?1521 J. Fisher Serm. agayn Luther sig. Aij In lyke maner..hathe rysen many a tyme some blacke clowde of heresy, & stered suche a tempest..that [etc.].

1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. 325/2 The French king..stirred war in Normandy.

c1610–15 tr. St. Ambrose Life St. Agnes in C. Horstmann Lives Women Saints (1886) 150 So that they stirre a greater tumult than euer the people had donne before.

1670 J. Dryden Tyrannick Love iii. i. 23 The Souldiers love her Brother's memory; And for her sake some Mutiny will stir.

β. 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 284 So that thou miht the betre lere What mischief that this vice stereth.c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 17 Þat storen stryf and wraþ.

c. To provoke or ‘needle’ (someone); to tease. See 14d. Australian colloquial.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > state of annoyance or vexation > be annoyed or vexed by [verb (transitive)] > annoy or vex > tease

tease1627

rag1749

lugger1782

gammon1801

tig1805

fun1811

run1828

ride1891

rawhide1895

to bust (a person's) chops1953

stir1972

to pull a person's chain1975

1972 L. Irish Time of Dolphins iii. 33 She's damned well stirring you.

1974 in Buckley & Hamilton Festival 187 Stirring teachers was our favourite sport.

1978 B. St.A. Smith Spirit beyond Psyche 180 She..had often ‘stirred’ him about his pretty hair, but secretly she had been proud of him.

10.

a. To bring into notice or debate; to move, raise, moot (a subject or question). Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > put forward [verb (transitive)]

laya1387

proposea1398

stirc1400

move1452

propound?1531

broach1579

start1579

moot1685

to set up1697

argument1747

α.

OE Beowulf 872 Secg eft ongan sið Beowulfes snyttrum styrian.

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 174 Many envious tale is stered, Wher that it mai noght ben ansuered.

c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 55 To stirre doutablys questions, honestly to aske hem, and discretly answore hem.

1444 Rolls of Parl. V. 122/1 Yef ther be eny mater or maters stirred, desired or moeved bi the Baillifs.

1580 E. Spenser in E. Spenser & G. Harvey Three Proper & Wittie Lett. 5 Little newes is here stirred.

1612 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 43 Preserve the rights of thy place, but stir not questions of Iurisdiccion.

a1676 M. Hale Hist. Common Law (1713) iii. 49 Many Cases..wherein the Question was not stirred.

1785 W. Paley Moral & Polit. Philos. (1818) II. vi. viii. 246 That..a doubt once decided may be stirred no more.

1831 W. Scott Castle Dangerous iv, in Tales of my Landlord 4th Ser. III. 284 ‘I shall not stir the question,’ said the minstrel.

1890 C. Martyn Wendell Phillips 202 To the petition he stirred,..the Committee returned a brutal denial.

β. c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (1868) iii. pr. xii. 106 But na-þeles yif I stered resouns þat ne ben nat taken fro wiþ oute þe compas of þe þinge of whiche we treten.1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxlv Who that..moued or stered the matter firste vnto your Lordeship, counsailed you neither for your worship nor profite.

†b. To bring forward as an example, to instance.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > an individual case or instance > find or furnish an instance or example of [verb (transitive)] > cite as an instance or example

stir1340

cite1550

name1597

instance1622

quote1663

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 226 To loki þet stat of wodewehod one ssel sterie þe uorbisne of þe turle.

II. Intransitive senses. (See also 3a (c).)

†11.

a. To move (continuously, or in general sense); to be in motion; spec. to move as a living being. (Cf. the reflexive sense 2) Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > move [verb (intransitive)]

stira1000

icchec1175

wag?c1225

movea1325

routa1325

to-wawea1375

removea1400

sway?a1400

trotc1430

ayrec1440

quinch1511

walk1533

twitch1542

shift1595

jee1727

to get around1849

the world > movement > bodily movement > move the body or a member [verb (intransitive)] > move as a living being

stira1000

wawc1275

movea1325

pass1340

α.

a1000 Ælfric Genesis i. 26 Ealle þa creopende, þe stirað on eorðan.

a1225 Leg. Kath. 361 Cleopest þeo þinges godes, þt nowðer sturien ne mahen ne steoren ham seoluen.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 309 Water þet ne stureð naut readliche stinkeð.

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 403 By forty dayez wern faren, on folde no flesch styryed.

c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 98 Fyssh of þe water, þat gooþ on foure feet, & þat stirrys vpon wombe.

1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) sig. Ei He..that hath an ore stirringe in other mens boates.

1633 G. Herbert Assurance in Temple vi While rocks stand, And rivers stirre.

β. c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame 567 And here with alle I gan to stere And he me in his fete to bere.c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 70 Thingis yat ar corporale jn this erde, steris nocht..with the moving of jt.1538 J. Bale Tragedye Promyses God ii. (facs.) B j b I wyll destroye..all that on earthe do stere.1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 87^v The winde so slender was To cause the ship to steare.

†b. To move or pass from one place to another; to come or go. Obsolete.Some of the quots., esp. in β, may belong to steer v.¹ 4.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > [verb (intransitive)]

nimeOE

becomec885

teec888

goeOE

i-goc900

lithec900

wendeOE

i-farec950

yongc950

to wend one's streetOE

fare971

i-wende971

shakeOE

winda1000

meteOE

wendOE

strikec1175

seekc1200

wevec1200

drawa1225

stira1225

glidea1275

kenc1275

movec1275

teemc1275

tightc1275

till1297

chevec1300

strake13..

travelc1300

choosec1320

to choose one's gatea1325

journeyc1330

reachc1330

repairc1330

wisec1330

cairc1340

covera1375

dressa1375

passa1375

tenda1375

puta1382

proceedc1392

doa1400

fanda1400

haunta1400

snya1400

take?a1400

thrilla1400

trace?a1400

trinea1400

fangc1400

to make (also have) resortc1425

to make one's repair (to)c1425

resort1429

ayrec1440

havea1450

speer?c1450

rokec1475

wina1500

hent1508

persevere?1521

pursuec1540

rechec1540

yede1563

bing1567

march1568

to go one's ways1581

groyl1582

yode1587

sally1590

track1590

way1596

frame1609

trickle1629

recur1654

wag1684

fadge1694

haul1802

hike1809

to get around1849

riddle1856

bat1867

biff1923

truck1925

α.

a1225 Leg. Kath. 796 Ȝe alles to strif beoð isturet hidere.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3252 Qua him sagh moght vnderstand He stird was of a riche land.

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 959 Iason..Busket to the bank and the bote tok, Stird ouer the streame streght to þe lond.

1581 Compendious Exam. Certayne Ordinary Complaints i. f. 8 We might sturre from on place to an other.

β. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4959 Nour-quider mai we stere.c1450 Mirk's Festial 145 Þis man steryd ynto anoþyr howse.1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xii. viii. 12 Turnus..Persauyt thame thus sterand throw the plane.1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 12 Mony stout man steiris Of town with the King.γ. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid i. i. 65 Thair stewinnis stowrand fast throw the salt fame.a1568 Wyf Auchtermuchty ix, in Bannatyne MS. (Hunterian Club) 344 Than to the kyrn that he did stoure.

12.

a. To pass from rest to motion, to begin to move; to make a slight movement, to move lightly (esp. to and fro); to make any movement, to move at all or in the least (chiefly with negative); to leave one's place, to budge; not to remain still; occasionally to show signs of life or consciousness (after sleep or a faint).

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > move [verb (intransitive)] > begin to move or move slightly

stirc950

budgea1592

mudge1790

α.

c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xi. 7 Gerd vel puulsper from uinde styrende vel sceæcende.

a1000 Ælfric Joshua x. 12 Ne stira þu sunne of þam stede.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2810 Min child tatt i min wambe liþ..bigann..To stirenn. & to buttenn.

c1220 Bestiary 18 Stille lið ðe leun, ne stireð he nout of slepe Til [etc.].

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 8695 Beoð alle stille þat na man þer ne sturie.

1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xx. 102 Lered ne lewed he let no man stonde, That he hitte euene þat euere stired after.

c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) iv. 12 Men may see þare þe erthe of þe toumbe..stirre and moue, as þer ware a qwikke thing under.

1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur i. xiv. 53 I wold that..they stere not tyll ye and your knyghtes haue foughte with hem longe.

1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 115^v The eares must bee shorte, standinge vpright, and stirring.

1603 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Hist. Descr. Worlde 120 Diuers..gentlemen..who neuer stirre from the side of the captaine Generall.

1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. i. 8 Bar. Haue you had quiet guard? Fran. Not a mouse stirring .

a1607 H. Chettle Trag. Hoffman (1631) sig. H 2 Art sure she is a sleepe!.. She stirs not, shee is fast.

a1607 H. Chettle Trag. Hoffman (1631) sig. H2^v She stirs, and when she wakes obserue me well.

1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 38 Whether they snore, or stir much in their sleepe.

1668 J. Dryden Sr Martin Mar-all iii. 30 [Lady has fainted away] Rose. Open her mouth with a Dagger... 2 Wom. She stirs, she revives, merciful to us all.

1705 C. Cibber Careless Husband iii. i. 35 Nay, you shan't stir a step.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 112. ¶5 No Body presumes to stir till Sir Roger is gone out of the Church.

1717 M. Prior Alma iii. 116 From every leaf that stirs, she flies.

1765 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. i. 125 Life..begins in contemplation of law as soon as an infant is able to stir in the mother's womb.

1829 R. Southey All for Love vii. 82 He stirr'd not from his station.

1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud xxi. iii, in Maud & Other Poems 68 All night has the casement jessamine stirr'd To the dancers dancing in tune.

1863 Mrs. H. Wood Verner's Pride II. xiv. 178 I was so took aback..that I couldn't neither stir nor speak.

1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay x. 158 She..stood for an instant..in silent, prayerful thought. Glynn waited till she stirred.

β. c1220 Bestiary 404 Ne stereð ȝe noȝt of ðe stede.a1400 Minor Poems from Vernon MS 604 Þer water is most deope, Þe lesse þer þen steres he.c1430 Chev. Assigne 147 They stoden alle stylle for stere þey ne durste.1567 A. Golding tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) v. f. 57^v Downe he fell and could not after steare.1616 J. Lane Contin. Squire's Tale vii. 480 While tonges well much maie talke, but no hand steare.1794 Har'st Rig xiv. 8 They vow they'll never steer Sae lang's he has a cut to shear, But bide wi' him till fields are clear.γ. 14.. Guy Warw. 3869 Loke, ye store not of þat stedde.c1420 Chron. Vilod. 3108 Þe clothe þat honged vpone hurre tombe þere þo Meue ofte & store wondere fast.c1450 Erle of Tolous 755 He durst not store, nor make no mone, To make the lady afryght.

b. To go out (from a house or place of abode); usually with †abroad, †forth, out: almost always with negative. Rarely of inanimate things.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > go or come out [verb (intransitive)] > from one's house or place

stir?a1500

to come abroad?1516

sally1590

α.

1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 86^v The Frog saith Aristotle liueth quietly all the time of cold weather, and neuer stirreth abrode.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) ii. ii. 38 Cæs. What say the Augurers? Ser. They would not haue you to stirre forth to day.

1644 J. Milton Areopagitica 23 Unoffensive books must not stirre forth without a visible jaylor in thir title.

1713 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 4 Apr. (1948) II. 653 I came home at 7, and have never stirrd out.

1743 J. Bulkeley & J. Cummins Voy. to South-seas 217 [We] were told by the Captain, we must not stir out of the Ship.

1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward II. ii. 42 He dare not stir far from his own Forest of Ardennes.

1827 E. B. Pusey in H. P. Liddon et al. Life E. B. Pusey (1893) I. vi. 118 These [MSS.] never stir out of the walls of the Bodleian.

1832 H. Martineau Life in Wilds iii. 33 They could not stir till they had provision for their journey.

γ. ?a1500 Chester Pl., Purif. 91 Yet storred I not out of this place.

†c. Of a voice: To sound. (Cf. 1d) Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > to sound (of voice or utterance) [verb (intransitive)]

stirc1275

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 14055 Þa umbe stunde stefne þer sturede [c1300 Otho storede].

d. Of a colour: To move, be affected.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > colour > change of colour > change colour [verb (intransitive)]

turn1568

chameleonize1599

to turn (one's) colour1604

discolour1612

colour1667

stir1792

1792 Trans. Soc. Arts 10 199 This manufacture improves every time it is washed; and the colours never stir by washing.

e. To show signs of growth; to bud. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > by growth or development > grow or vegetate [verb (intransitive)] > sprout or put forth new growth

spriteOE

wrideOE

brodc1175

comea1225

spirec1325

chicka1400

sprouta1400

germin?1440

germ1483

chip?a1500

spurgea1500

to put forth1530

shootc1560

spear1570

stock1574

chit1601

breward1609

pullulate1618

ysproutc1620

egerminate1623

put1623

germinate1626

sprent1647

fruticate1657

stalk1666

tiller1677

breerc1700

fork1707

to put out1731

stool1770

sucker1802

stir1843

push1855

braird1865

fibre1869

flush1877

1843 Penny Cycl. XXVII. 457/1 A northern aspect is thought best, as the vines do not stir so soon in spring.

f. figurative. To begin to show signs of ‘life’ or activity (as an intellectual movement or the like).

ΚΠ

1873 [implied in: J. A. Symonds Stud. Greek Poets v. 111 The very earliest stirrings of conscious art in Greece. (at stirring n. 2d)].

1909 [implied in: Edinb. Rev. July 154 The stirrings of an independent life in the..peoples. (at stirring n. 2d)].

13.

a. To move about in a place, to ‘be about’; chiefly in present participle (often spec. = out of bed, up and about).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > doing > act or do [verb (intransitive)] > as opposed to talking or inaction > be in action or stirring about

stirc1275

α.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 11855 Þa hit dæi wes amarȝen duȝeðe gunne sturien [c1300 Otho gan to storie].

c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iii. 692 But boden go to bedde with myschaunce, If ony wight was sterynge ony where.

c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxi. 213 They coude se no man sterynge within the castell.

1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida i. ii. 49 Cres. Hector was gone but Hellen was not vp? Pan. E'ene so, Hector was stirring early.

1619 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1618–21 (1906) 99 If any stronge drinke be stirringe.

1702 R. Steele Funeral ii. 17 How often must I tell you my Lord is not stirring: His Lordship has not Slept well.

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. v. 176 Had any ships been stirring in these seas..we must have met with them.

1825 W. Scott Betrothed xiii, in Tales Crusaders I. 234 Notwithstanding there are now no Welch knaves stirring, yet the marches are never free from robbers.

1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xviii. 177 When no one in the house was stirring, and the lights were all extinguished.

1884 W. E. Henley & R. L. Stevenson Admiral Guinea (1892) iv. i. 244 Arethusa (listening). St! my father stirring in his room!

γ. c1275 [see sense 1bα. ]. 1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde ii. ii. f. 60^v When he had contynued a whyle in the hauen, and sawe noo man stourynge.

b. transferred. To be in circulation, be current; chiefly in present participle. Now somewhat rare: chiefly of news (cf. 1c).

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publish or spread abroad [verb (intransitive)] > spread or be current

springOE

spreadc1300

to go abouta1325

quicka1400

risea1400

runa1400

walkc1400

stir1423

voice1429

fly1480

to go abroad1513

to come abroad1525

wandera1547

divulge1604

to get abroad1615

to take aira1616

to make (also do) the rounds1669

to get about1740

reach1970

1423 Rolls of Parl. IV. 257/2 Be ther never so muche white moneye forged, that shall be but litell the more sturryngge among the poeple.

1608 Bp. J. Hall Characters Vertues & Vices ii. 79 No newes can stir but by his doore.

1634 W. Tirwhyt tr. J. L. G. de Balzac Lett. 187 To let you know what newes is stirring.

1691 A. Wood Life & Times (1894) III. 370 [The] University very empty and dead: and money but little stirring.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 10. ¶5 Asking..whether there was any News stirring?

c1850 Arabian Nights (Rtldg.) 646 He asked the host if there were any news stirring.

c. To go on, happen, take place; chiefly in present participle = going on, ‘on foot’.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > doing > a proceeding > proceed or carry on an action [verb (intransitive)] > be carried on or proceed

wharvec888

passa1393

proceed?a1439

stir1526

progress1600

to go on1735

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Kiiii Euery thyng that stereth by hym, or that he seth or hereth he iudgeth to be a reuelacion.

1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. i. 88 No ill lucke stirring but what lights a my shoulders.

1684 T. Otway Atheist i. 6 What Sins are stirring in this Noble Metropolis.

1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 141 There's no Trade stirs now.

1882 C. Pebody Eng. Journalism xx. 152 Telegrams from every part of the world where there is anything stirring that is of the slightest interest to Englishmen.

14.

a. To move briskly or energetically; to be on the move, be active, ‘look alive’, bestir oneself. Cf. the reflexive use 6.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > act or do vigorously [verb (intransitive)] > be brisk or active

wakec897

stir?c1225

whippet1540

to let the grass grow under one's feet (also heels)a1556

jetty1570

hum1884

α.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 121 For þi mine leoue sustren bi nicht ase nicht fuwel þet ancre is to iefned. beoð ȝeorne sturinde.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 4656 He..sturede [c1300 Otho storede] i þon compe al-se hit þe king weore.

1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 30 Make maide to be clenly,..& teach her to stirre when her mistresse doth speake.

1602 T. Dekker Blurt Master-Constable sig. C2^v Triuia, Simperina, stir stir, stir, one of you open the Case-ments.

1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles v. 57 Looke how thou stirr'st now.

1830 T. P. Thompson in Westm. Rev. July 254 Every free man in the civilized world is put on his defence, and called upon to be stirring for the preservation of all that he may wish to keep.

1841 W. M. Thackeray Great Hoggarty Diamond xii Her husband stirred and bustled about until the requisite leave was obtained.

1849 W. S. Mayo Kaloolah (1850) vi. 57 Let's stir round and do something.

1884 W. C. Smith Kildrostan 34 Ina, your heart is low, as one will be Who sits down in a mist instead of stirring To keep the blood warm.

β. c1400 Gamelyn (Corpus MS.) 519 Stere [v.rr. Bi-, Bystere] good adam and late þer none flee.c1400 Ragman Roll 134 in Hazlitt Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) I. 75 Joly and lyght is your complexicion, That steryn ay, and kunne nat stonde still.c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn Prol. l. 548 So she sterith aboute this house in a wood rese.1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) v. l. 838 The hardy Scottis so steryt in that sted.1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. biiii^v Wondir sternly thai steir on thair stent stedis.a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 55 So in our commynalty certayn partys therbe, wych ever be movyng & sterryng.γ. c1275 Laȝamon Brut 9334 He..storede in þan fihte.

b. figurative. To be active or occupied about something; to move or bestir oneself in a matter, to begin to act.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin action or activity [verb (intransitive)] > bestir oneself

arisec825

to start upc1275

stirc1275

shifta1400

awakea1450

to put out one's fins?1461

wake1523

to shake one's ears1580

rouse1589

bestira1616

awaken1768

arouse1822

waken1825

to wake snakes1835

roust1841

to flax round1884

to get busy1896

to get one's arse in gear1948

α.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 9404 On hir he scal streonen þat scal wide sturien [c1300 Otho sturie].

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 4047 Now wete yche..þat stares vpon stories, & stirs in bokys, Þat [etc.].

1618 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1618–21 (1906) 19 If it bee prooved Mogolls goods, and that the King stirr in yt, I know this people.

1620 Horæ Subseciuæ 304 A mans nature is to stirre more for the recouery of a good, which they once enioyed, then for the acquisition of what they are ignorant of.

a1642 R. Callis Reading of Statute of Sewers (1647) iii. 152 Surely this point hath heretofore been much stirred in, and not without some cause.

1653 W. Ramesey Astrologia Restaurata 183 Neither is it safe for those Rebels to stirr when she [i.e. the Moon] is weak.

1709 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1886) II. 175 The writer..was..advis'd..to stir for it.

c1721 Marquis of Tullibardine Let. in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Earl of Eglinton (1885) 126 in Parl. Papers 1884–5 (C. 4575) XLIV. 1 I pray the capacity of those who are most able to stir about your Majesty's concerns, be well employed in [etc.].

1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor ii, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. II. 24 The improbability of the young Master of Ravenswood finding friends in parliament, capable of stirring in so weighty an affair.

1871 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) IV. xviii. 144 While Exeter was in arms, York did not stir, and when York did stir, Exeter had no longer the power of stirring.

β. a1505 R. Henryson Test. Cresseid 469 in Poems (1981) 126 Fortoun is fikkill quhen scho beginnis and steiris.a1560 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Nyne Fyrst Bks. Eneidos (1562) ix. sig. Ddij^v Gods, gods, o countrey gods, in whose protection Troy still steeres.1647 in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. Ep. Ded. But directed by the example of some, who once steered in our qualitie..we have presumed to offer to your Selfe, what before was never printed of these Authours.1891 ‘H. Haliburton’ Ochil Idylls 40 At fifty, wi' a conscience clear, The man that sits, as I do here, Haund-haill, an' neither slow to steer Nor quick to tire.

c. To make a disturbance, commotion, or tumult; to rise in revolt or insurrection. Now rare and merely contextual.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > lack of subjection > rebelliousness > insurrection > rise in revolt [verb (intransitive)]

arisec825

onriseOE

rise?a1160

stirc1275

inrisea1300

upstanda1300

again-risea1382

rebela1382

raisea1400

insurge1532

to fall offa1535

revolt1548

to rise in arms1563

tumult1570

tumultuatea1734

insurrect1821

insurrectionize1841

to break into rebellion1876

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 5345 In Lundene stureden þa leoden.

1399 W. Langland Richard Redeles iii. 269 To strie strouters þat sterede aȝeine rithis.

a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) iii. l. 22 Þe kynge of Moab than, Eglon, Had vndyr hym in subieccion Þe folk of Israel fourteyn ȝhere, Qwhil Ayot begouthe to steyr.

1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) iv. iv. sig. r ^v Good werkes that be done for y^e loue of god stere put and knocke at the yate of mercy dyuyne.

a1550 Lynn Chron. in Six Town Chron. (1911) 185 In this yere the Skots begane to store and the deweke of glossytr was sent to them but he retorned w^th out battell.

1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Piv^v/1 To Sturre, neutre, tumultuare.

1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. 71 The King..was quiet and peaceable, and stirred not against him.

1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn II. li. 175 ‘Is not your nation seditious and turbulent?’ ‘It is not,’ answered Ishmael. ‘We never stir unless we are wronged.’

d. To cause trouble, to provoke authority; to make a nuisance of oneself. See 9c and stirrer n. 1d. colloquial (chiefly Australian).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > state of annoyance or vexation > be annoyed or vexed [verb (intransitive)] > cause annoyance or vexation

to work (also do) annoyc1300

noya1387

to do noisance1437

molest1580

bothera1774

annoy1848

needle1874

stir1972

1972 J. de Hoog Skid Row Dossier 110 Several youths went ‘stirring’ one day—riding up and down the lifts of large office blocks.

1980 E. R. Hall Can you hear Me? 128 There were radio members who would ‘stir’ mainly in an effort to get the ‘System’ to work for the individual.

1984 ‘K. Royce’ Crypto Man x. 153 ‘It will get straight back to Clarke.’ ‘Maybe that won't be a bad thing. All we can do is stir.’

15. To be roused or excited, as feeling, passion, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > excitement > be or become excited [verb (intransitive)]

stira1000

resea1250

to move one's blood (also mood)c1330

fluster1613

fever1632

foment1646

ferment1671

animate1779

self-excite1832

effervesce1850

to turn on1966

a1000 Boeth. Metr. xxii. 64 Mid þæm bisgum þe on breostum styreð.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5052 Ioseph beheild þan beniamin, Him stird al his blod wit-in.

1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos ii. sig. D.iv^v Sometime when tyryd ben their harts their manful stomacks steres [L. victis redit in præcordia virtus] And down their conquerours they quell.

1575 T. Churchyard 1st Pt. Chippes f. 2 ^v Our rage was great..Our stomackes storde, as we did this beholde.

1577–82 N. Breton Toys of Idle Head (Grosart) 39/1 And then doo what I can, alas, my Heart beginnes to sturre.

1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 i. iii. 195 The bloud more stirs To rouse a lyon than to start a hare.

1705 C. Cibber Careless Husband i. i. 10 My Blood stirs at the very thought on't.

1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge lxxxi. 411 His wrath so stirred within him, that he could have struck him dead.

1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess v. 107 I..felt the blind wildbeast of force..Stir in me as to strike.

Phrasal verbs

to stir up

a. transitive. To set in motion, agitate; to push or poke so as to displace, disturb, or mix the parts of: cf. senses 1, 3 to stir up with a long pole (humorous, with allusion to a wild-beast showman ‘stirring up’ his beasts): to rouse from rest or inaction, to provoke to activity: cf. sense 1d, also 5, 7.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > agitate [verb (transitive)] > stir

stira1023

to stir up1340

rowa1400

rore1440

rout?1440

rummage1591

rumble1724

stirc1000

to stir up1340

stira1475

card1591

coil1674

1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 487 Stiue stormus of þe wind stiren vp þe wawus.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Deut. xxxii. 11 As an Aegle stereth vp hir nest, and flotereth ouer hir yonge.

1679 Trials of Green etc. for Murder of Sir E. Godfrey 39 I was in the Parlor and stirred up the fire.

1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 684 Stir up and dress the soil of flowers and shrubs in pots.

1823 ‘J. Bee’ Slang 166 ‘Stir 'em up with a long pole, as the fellow does with the beestes,’ alludes to the bellowings of these latter.

1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. xviii. 471 It is best..to effect the mixture..by stirring up the mass lightly with a pointed stick or a fork.

1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days ii. ii. 260 Stir him up with the long pole, Jack, and hear him swear like a drunken sailor.

1912 C. Johnston Why World Laughs 2 Whenever the dance showed signs of flagging, the policeman stirred them up with a long pole.

†b. To rouse from sleep or rest, to wake up. (Cf. 5) Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > state of being awake > wake or rouse [verb (transitive)]

wecchec897

aweccheeOE

wakenc1175

awake?c1225

upwakea1325

wakec1369

ruthec1400

daw1470

awaken1513

to stir up1526

dawn1530

to call up1548

unsleep1555

rouse1563

abraid1590

amove1591

arousea1616

dissleep1616

expergefy1623

start?1624

to rouse out1825

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Acts xii. 7 He smote Peter on the syde and steryd him uppe.

1533 T. More Answere Poysened Bk. iii. i. f. clv He that eateth my flesshe and drynketh my bloude, hath lyfe euerlastynge, and I shall stere hym vp in the laste daye.

1611 Bible (King James) Song of Sol. viii. 4 I charge you..that ye stirre not vp, nor awake my loue vntill he please.

1683 W. Salmon Doron Medicum i. 146 [It] gently awakes, or stirrs them up.

†c. To ‘raise up’, call into being. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > [verb (transitive)] > elicit or call forth

movea1398

drawa1400

provoke?a1425

askc1450

to draw out1525

to stir up1526

allure?1532

suscitate1532

to call out1539

to draw fortha1569

draw1581

attract1593

raise1598

force1602

fetch1622

milka1628

invite1650

summon1679

elicit1822

to work up?1833

educe1840

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Rom. ix. 17 Even for thys same purpose haue I stered the uppe [Gk. ἐξήγειρά σε], to shewe my power on the.

1532 T. More Confut. Tyndales Answere iii. p. cclxxxiiii We saye also that god hath dayly stered vp & dayly doth sterre vp new prophetes in sundry partes of hys catholyke chyrche.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Deut. xxv. 7 My kynsman refuseth to stere vp [L. suscitare: Luther erwecken] a name vnto his brother in Israel and wyl not marye me.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. clxxxxviii^v The dispensacion by the lawe of Deuteronomi of styrryng vp the brothers sede.

1561 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates in Wks. (1888) I. 52 An wngodly and wickit peple sterit vp to be Godis scurge.

1564 tr. P. M. Vermigli Most Fruitfull & Learned Comm. 200 b When God decreed to sende any notable and excellent man, he verye often tymes styrred hym vp out of a barren woman.

d. To rouse to action, activity, or emotion; to rouse from indifference or sloth; to incite, instigate, stimulate: cf. sense 7.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > stir up or rouse up

stirc1000

aweccheOE

stirc1175

arear?c1225

awakec1315

amovec1330

araisec1374

wake1398

wakenc1400

to stir upa1500

incend?1504

to firk upc1540

bestir1549

store1552

bustlea1555

tickle1567

solicitate1568

to stir one's taila1572

exsuscitate1574

rouse1574

suscitate1598

accite1600

actuate1603

arousea1616

poach1632

roust1658

to shake up1850

to galvanize to or into life1853

to make things (or something specified) hum1884

to jack up1914

rev1945

α.

?1542 H. Brinkelow Complaynt Roderyck Mors iii. sig. B5 God shal sturre vp the hartys euyn of his own fryndes agaynst him.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. iv. sig. Q3^v His am I Atin, his in wrong and right, That..Stirre him vp to strife and cruell fight.

a1591 H. Smith Serm. (1594) 529 That all the world may take heede how they stirre vp the Lyon of Iudah.

a1644 F. Quarles Solomons Recantation (1645) xii. 59 The wise mans words are like to Goads, that doe Stir up the drowzy, and spur up the slow.

1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 403 At which time..they stirred him up to recover the Right and Title of Oneal.

1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1251 He will..with malitious counsel stir them up..yet further to afflict thee.

a1720 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. ii. 129 The constable stirred up the rude people, and cried, Kill him [Cf. Acts vi. 12 etc.].

1838 J. L. Stephens Incidents Trav. Greece, Turkey, Russia 107/1 The French..were always suspected of being political emissaries to stir up the Poles to revolution.

1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay v. 81 I shall write to my lawyers to stir up our detectives.

1890 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 4 Aug. 1/8 The Pennsylvania Road has stirred up a hornet's nest.

1894 R. Bridges Feast of Bacchus i. 44 Stirring up your servants.

β. a1500 Anc. Sc. Prophecy in Bernardus de Cura Rei Famuliaris 33 Þe stepsonys of þe lyonne steryt vp at ones, Þe leoperde sall þame stryke doune.1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Di We ought the more to..stere vp our hertes to deuocion.1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Celebr. Holye Communion f. xcvii Stiere vp we beseche thee, O Lord, the wylles of thy faythfull people.1571 G. Buchanan Admonitioun Trew Lordis sig. A.3 Nouther honour nor commoun welth steirit zow vp then.1641 Sc. Acts Chas. I (1817) V. 579/2 To give ordour to the seuerall ministeris..to steir vp the peopill of thair particular parosches..to extend þ^r liberalitie þ^rto.γ. 1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde ii. ii. f. 59^v Vaschus Nunnez..stoured vp certeyne lyght felowes ageynst Ancisus.

e. To excite, provoke, induce; to raise, set on foot (strife, disturbance, etc.); to arouse (feeling or emotion): cf. sense 9.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > [verb (transitive)] > give rise to

makeOE

breedc1200

wakea1325

wakenc1330

engendera1393

gendera1398

raisea1400

begetc1443

reara1513

ingener1513

ingenerate1528

to stir upc1530

yield1576

to pull ona1586

to brood up1586

to set afloat (on float)1586

spawn1594

innate1602

initiate1604

inbreed1605

irritate1612

to give rise to1630

to let in1655

to gig (out)1659

to set up1851

gin1887

the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > quality of affecting the emotions > affect with emotion [verb (transitive)] > cause or give rise to an emotion

rearOE

arear?c1225

annoyc1300

movea1325

excite1393

raisea1400

lighta1413

stirc1430

provokec1450

provocate?a1475

rendera1522

to stir upc1530

excitate?1549

inspire1576

yield1576

to turn up1579

rouse1589

urge1594

incense1598

upraisea1600

upreara1600

irritate1612

awakena1616

recreate1643

pique1697

arouse1730

unlull1743

energize1753

evocate1827

evoke1856

vibe1977

the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate > bring about by incitement

stirc897

forthclepe?c1000

raisec1175

entice1297

rearc1325

excitea1340

arta1450

provocate?a1475

suscitate1528

to stir upc1530

provoke1535

store1552

concitea1555

upsteer1558

spirit1598

solicit1602

foment1606

fana1616

proritate1620

incite1627

ferment1660

spirita1680

brush1755

whip1805

to put (also set) (the) spurs to1819

fillipa1822

instigate1852

spark-plug1945

whomp1961

α.

1538 T. Elyot Dict. Irrito, to prouoke, to kendyl wrathe, to styrre vppe.

1544 P. Betham tr. J. di Porcia Preceptes Warre i. iii. sig. B iv It is a lyght thyng to styre vp battayl, but to leaue of with glorye..is an harde thyng.

1546 S. Gardiner Detection Deuils Sophistrie 16 Y^e deuyll..sturreth vp this abhominable heresy.

1622 L. Digges tr. G. de Céspedes y Meneses Gerardo 2 The sad spectacle stirred vp the poore mens compassion.

1637 J. Milton Comus 7 Merriment, Such as the jocond Flute..Stirs up among the loose unleter'd Hinds.

1683 W. Lloyd in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) (Camden) 187 Such songs as are most apt to stir up devotion.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 163. ¶6 Authors that are apt to stir up Mirth in the Mind of the Readers.

1820 W. Scott Monastery I. vi. 198 Whet the temporal sword if it be necessary, and stir up the courage and zeal of your loyal vassals.

1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiv. 464 He did not conceive that he was bound to be always stirring up sedition against them.

1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn I. vii. 51 Unless they stir up a riot at Rome I shall not trouble the Emperor by mentioning them.

β. c1530 Spirituall Counsayle G j That I myghte stere up in me a fresche remembraunce of thy moste blyssed deathe.1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. Rom. xvi. f. xliiii^v The misterie, whiche..nowe is opened..to stere vp obedience to the fayth published among all nacions.1567 T. Drant tr. Horace Pistles in tr. Horace Arte of Poetrie sig. Gvij That poet on a stretched rope May walke and neuer fall, That can stere vp my passions, Or quicke my sprytes at all.γ. a1555 J. Philpot tr. C. S. Curione Def. Authority Christ's Church in R. Eden Exam. & Writings J. Philpot (1842) (modernized text) 380 The Jews..for the ceremonies of their country and rites eftsoons stored up great controversies.

Compounds

With noun in object relation.

† stir-passion n. Obsolete something that stirs or excites passion.Apparently an isolated use.

ΚΠ

1604 T. Wright Passions of Minde (new ed.) v. 185 It were requisite for an excellent stir-passion to have in a readinesse all those places.

† stir-strife adj. Obsolete that stirs or excites strife.Apparently an isolated use.

ΚΠ

1589 W. Warner Albions Eng. (new ed.) v. xxiii. 104 That heard the Pope, canonizing the stir-strife Priest a Saint.

Draft additions June 2004

coarse slang (chiefly British, Australian and New Zealand). [Compare French foutre la merde (1978 or earlier) to make a mess, to mess things up.] to stir (up) shit and variants: to cause trouble for its own sake. Cf. sense Phrasal verbs e.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > misuse > [verb (intransitive)] > take advantage of trouble

to fish in troubled waters1569

to stir shit1971

1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. vi. sig. Iii The more we stur a tourde, the wours it will stynke.]

1971 New Lit. Hist. 3 45 It consists of setting fire to the powder, of activating the flames... The reading-writing process consists of stirring up shit.

1978 New Mus. Express 25 Nov. 11/3 I keep being told I mustn't criticise anyone or stir up any shit.

1981 Avondale (Auckland) Slang Words (Goldie Brown Coll.) Feb. To stir shit, to make trouble.

1988 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 22 Apr. 1 All the..crew who have been stirring shit, he has dropped them right in it.

1998 Y.-M. Ooi Flame Tree (1999) xxix. 402 You had the chance to bow out gracefully. To go back to London with your sweet arse and career intact. But you had to stir the shit.

Draft additions March 2021

colloquial. to stir the pot: to cause trouble, esp. to provoke others vicariously; to incite conflict or controversy. Also in later use: to challenge the status quo.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > dissent > be in dissension or at variance [verb (intransitive)] > cause dissension

to make strife1303

to make the feathers flyc1430

to stir the coals1539

to make mischiefc1572

to blow the bellows1590

to blow the fire1670

to stir the pot1826

to stir (also rouse) the possum1900

to mix it1950

1826 Caledonian Mercury 3 June As you have stirred the pot, let us see what will come next.

1968 Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) 18 Jan. 7/1 The Russians..just want to stir the pot to exploit inter-Arab and Arab–Israeli conflicts.

2013 S. Johnson Elysian Fields xv. 126 I was so afraid of screwing it up..that changing the status quo terrified me. As long as we'd been cosentinels, Alex wasn't willing to stir the pot, either.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	stir
释义	stirn.¹ Brit. /stəː/, U.S. /stər/ Forms: see stir v. Etymology: < stir v.Old Northumbrian had gestir (only once, glossing actio in Rit. Dunelm. 187). The cognate Old Norse styr-r (masculine) (see stir v.) may possibly be in part the source of the Scots and northern uses, which (in the β forms) are recorded from the 14th cent. The action or an act of stirring, in various senses. 1. Movement, considered in contrast to or as an interruption of rest or stillness; slight or momentary movement; movement of disturbance, agitation. (†In quot. 1589 at α. , motion in general.) on the stir (rare): astir, stirring. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > [noun] > specifically in contrast to rest or stillness stirc1480 moving of the waters1642 the world > action or operation > doing > in action [phrase] in action1584 on the stir1805 up and about, around1893 α. 1550 J. Heywood Hundred Epigrammes xxix. sig. Bii^v At stur of euery mouse. 1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie ii. iii. 56 Some [words] aske longer, some shorter time to be vttered in, & so by the Philosophers definition, stirre is the true measure of time. 1660 R. Sharrock Hist. Propagation & Improvem. Veg. 92 Heterogeneous things, upon their meeting, ordinarily cause that stir which is thought..to have great influence upon vegetation. 1803 R. Southey Inchcape Rock 1 No stir in the air, no stir in the sea. 1805 W. Wordsworth Waggoner i. 22 Hush, there is some one on the stir! 'Tis Benjamin the Waggoner. 1820 J. Keats Hyperion: a Fragm. i, in Lamia & Other Poems 145 No stir of air was there. 1845 R. Browning Time's Revenges in Bells & Pomegranates No. VII: Dramatic Romances & Lyrics 58 The stir Of shadow round her mouth. 1885 R. L. Stevenson Child's Garden of Verses 14 Not a stir of child or mouse. 1898 ‘H. S. Merriman’ Roden's Corner iii. 32 Presently there was a stir at the door, and Cornish entered the large room. β. c1480 [see sense 4]. a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox, Wolf, & Cadger l. 2066 in Poems (1981) 79 I trou ȝe haue bene tussillit with sum tyke, That garris ȝou ly sa still withoutin steir. 2. Active or energetic movement of a number of persons (or animals); bustle, activity. (In some cases hardly distinguishable from 3.) ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > briskness or activeness > bustle or fuss to-doc1330 adoc1380 great (also much) cry and little woolc1460 feery-fary1535 fray1568 stirc1595 do1598 coil1599 hurl1603 ruffle1609 clutterment1611 buzz1628 bustle1637 paddle1642 racket1644 clutter1652 tracas1656 tracasserie1656 circumference1667 flutter1667 hurly-burly1678 fuss1701 fissle1719 fraise1725 hurry-scurry1753 fix-fax1768 fal-lal1775 widdle1789 touse1792 fuffle1801 going-on1817 hurry and scurry1823 sputter1823 tew1825 Bob's-a-dying1829 fidge1832 tamasha1842 mulling1845 mussing1846 fettling1847 fooster1847 trade1854 scrimmage1855 carry-on1861 fuss-and-feathers1866 on-carry1870 make-a-do1880 miration1883 razzle-dazzle1885 song and dance1885 to get a rustle on1891 tea-party1903 stirabout1905 whoop-de-do1910 chichi1928 production1941 go-go1966 c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxxxviii. 17 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 129 As one who free from strife, And sturr of mortall life, Among the dead at rest doth sitt. 1637 J. Milton Comus 1 Above the smoake and stirre of this dim spot Which men call Earth. 1713 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 21 Mar. (1948) II. 642 Company will come, and a Stir and Clutters. 1785 W. Cowper Task iii. 739 The stir of commerce. 1836 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece III. xxv. 375 The stir of preparation immediately began. 1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola I. x. 170 By this time the stir of the Festa was felt even in the narrowest side streets. 3. Commotion, disturbance, tumult; general excitement; fuss. Now usually with a; the plural, now rare, was formerly common, esp. in the sense ‘publick disturbance, tumultuous disorder’ (Johnson), riot, insurrection. Phrase, †to keep a stir. ΘΚΠ society > authority > lack of subjection > unruliness > disorder or riot > [noun] riot1400 tumult1412 misgovernail?a1439 rout1439 revel1462 tumultuationc1475 stir1487 rangat?a1513 rangale1513 turmoil1526 ruffle1532 confusion1555 disorder1558 roaring1617 mayhem1976 society > authority > lack of subjection > unruliness > political unrest > [noun] stirringa1154 motiona1387 troublec1435 misrule1442 commotion1471 stir1487 misgovernment1565 welteringa1586 confusions1599 distemper1605 distemperature?1606 convulsion1643 unsettlement1649 upturning1846 upturn1864 the natives are restless1950 the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > commotion, disturbance, or disorder > [noun] winOE torpelness?c1225 disturbance1297 workc1325 disturblingc1330 farec1330 frapec1330 disturbing1340 troublingc1340 blunderc1375 unresta1382 hurling1387 perturbationc1400 turbationc1400 rumblec1405 roara1413 rumourc1425 sturblance1435 troublec1435 stroublance1439 hurlc1440 hurly-burlyc1440 ruffling1440 stourc1440 rumblingc1450 sturbancec1450 unquietness?c1450 conturbationc1470 ruption1483 stir1487 wanrufe?a1505 rangat?a1513 business1514 turmoil1526 blommera1529 blunderinga1529 disturbation1529 bruyllie1535 garboil1543 bruslery1546 agitation1547 frayment1549 turmoiling1550 whirl1552 confusion1555 troublesomeness1561 rule1567 rummage1575 rabble1579 tumult1580 hurlement1585 rabblement1590 disturb1595 welter1596 coil1599 hurly1600 hurry1600 commotion1616 remotion1622 obturbation1623 stirrance1623 tumultuation1631 commoving1647 roiling1647 spudder1650 suffle1650 dissettlement1654 perturbancy1654 fermentationa1661 dissettledness1664 ferment1672 roil1690 hurry-scurry1753 vortex1761 rumpus1768 widdle1789 gilravagea1796 potheration1797 moil1824 festerment1833 burly1835 fidge1886 static1923 comess1944 frammis1946 bassa-bassa1956 the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > commotion, disturbance, or disorder > [noun] > instance of viretotec1386 moving?a1439 reela1450 stir1487 songa1500 pirrie1536 hurly-burly1548 make-a-do1575 confusions1599 the hunt is upa1625 ruffle1642 fuss1701 fraction1721 fizza1734 dust1753 noration1773 steeriea1776 splorea1791 rook1808 piece of work1810 curfuffle1813 squall1813 rookerya1820 stushie1824 shindy1829 shine1832 hurroosh1836 fustle1839 upsetting1847 shinty1848 ructions1862 vex1862 houp-la1870 set-out1875 hoodoo1876 tingle-tangle1880 shemozzle1885 take-on1893 dust-up1897 hoo-ha1931 tra-la-la1933 gefuffle1943 tzimmes1945 kerfuffle1946 α. singular. a1547 Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil Fourth Bk. Aeneas (1554) iv. sig. Ei Her syster Anne, spryteles for dread to heare Thys fearefull sturre, wyth nayles gan teare her face. 1549 in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. II. 168 If you forsake to come to this..peaxable agrement,..the inconveniences which may ensue upon stirre must grow of yow. 1557 M. Basset tr. T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. 1390/1 Sundry matters as in such a sodain styrre very sore perplexed theim. 1579 J. Field tr. J. Calvin Serm. i. 8 But what a blundering and stirre keepe they heere? 1629 T. Hobbes tr. Thucydides Eight Bks. Peloponnesian Warre ii. 112 Being then at their wits end, they kept a stirre at Pericles. 1655 R. Baxter Quakers Catech. 19 Your Prater also made a stirre with me for calling the sacred Languages the Originall. 1678 C. Trenchfield Fathers Counsel (ed. 2) 17 There are many things we make no small stir about. 1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. ii. viii. 90 Glaucus, who used to say, that Statesmen and Lawgivers may keep a stir about right and wrong, just and unjust, but that, in truth [etc.]. 1782 W. Cowper Mutual Forbearance in Poems 21 For one slight trespass all this stir? 1807 W. Wordsworth Poems I. 23 I'm as great as they, I trow, Since the day I found thee out, Little flower!—I'll make a stir Like a great Astronomer. 1847 G. P. R. James Convict xiv The Chartists are making a great stir about here just now. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay viii. 126 He always came to the front when there was any stir in the Lambert affair. plural.1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. v. f. 27^v The Leauetenaunt asked hym what al these sturres and tumultes ment.1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. v. 85 His Apostles are not breeders of stirs and mutinies, they are messengers sent to make peace.1650 S. Clarke Marrow Eccl. Hist. (1654) i. 26 They never intended any stirs or rebellions against the Empire.1680 R. Morden Geogr. Rectified 209 Great Stirs between the Popes and the old Dukes of Ferrara.1847 E. Brontë Wuthering Heights I. iv. 86 He complained so seldom, indeed, of such stirs as these, that I really thought him not vindictive.1876 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (ed. 2) IV. xx. 531 The stirs [1871 commotions] which were soon to arise on the side of Maine, Anjou, and Brittany.1896 S. R. Crockett Grey Man xl. 268 Thrusting myself into all the stirs and quarrels.β. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) vii. 344 Swa that the host wes all on steir.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 7398 The stere was full stithe; þere starf mony knightes.1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) ii. 112 Syne eftir denner raiss the din, And all the toun on steir.1570 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. x. 196 Brother, allace, had ȝe bene heir, I had not cum in all this sturt and steir.1728 A. Ramsay Step-daughter 8 My Step-dame..keeps the hale House in a steer.1873 C. Gibbon For Lack of Gold (new ed.) vi Annie's grandmother, a bairn then, was in the thick of the steer.1912 R. M. Fergusson Ochil Fairy Tales 45 A terrible steer got up among the ponies, that began jumping about like mad beasts. †4. on steer (cf. senses 1 – 3): astir, in motion; in a state of commotion or tumult. Scottish. Obsolete (see asteer adv.) ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > in agitated movement [phrase] on steerc1480 the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > commotion, disturbance, or disorder > in a state of commotion or disorder [phrase] on steerc1480 the devil to paya1500 in (an) uproar1548 the devil rides on a fiddle-stick1598 in motion1598 the devil (and all) to doa1681 (all) the fat is in the fire1797 c1480 (a1400) SS. Simon & Jude 343 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 218 Nere al þe land of babylone one stere mad þai. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) vii. 344 Swa that the host wes all on steir. 1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) ii. 112 Syne eftir denner raiss the din, And all the toun on steir. 1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 413 He saw na thing on steir. 5. figurative. Movement of feeling or thought; emotion; impulse; intellectual activity. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > [noun] ondeeOE moodeOE affection?c1225 affecta1398 feelinga1413 heart1557 stir1563 emotion1603 permotion1656 naturality1822 the mind > mental capacity > [noun] > action, operation of the mind acta1425 stir1563 working1598 mentation1850 mentalism1874 1563 J. Man tr. W. Musculus Common Places Christian Relig. 438 b Thys sayeth Lactance. By whyche wordes he dothe not take from God the commotion and sturre of anger, but that onelye whyche is ioyned with fault. a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) i. iii. 12 He did keepe The Decke, with Gloue, or Hat, or Handkerchife, Still wauing, as the fits and stirres of's mind Could best expresse how slow his Soule sayl'd on. View more context for this quotation 1820 J. Keats Isabella in Lamia & Other Poems 49 They could not in the self-same mansion dwell Without some stir of heart. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iii. 409 In this, as in every great stir of the human mind. 1878 C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David V. Ps. cxiv. 4 God's power of creating a stir in lethargic minds. 1899 R. Bridges New Poems (1912) viii. 339 Fair Thy dreams..Yea, godlike when thou hast the skill To steal a stir of the heavenly thrill. 6. An act of stirring something, e.g. a liquid, etc.; a poke, jog; figurative a rousing. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > [noun] > stirring so as to move the parts of something > an act of stir1818 the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > [noun] > action or fact of mixing > by stirring stirringa1398 stir1818 1818 Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 33 71 Public opinion had received a great stir. 1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days ii. viii. 391 ‘Eh, Arthur?’ said Tom, giving him a stir with his foot. 1904 Daily News 2 Dec. 6 Each of the family took a stir... A Christmas pudding required much stirring. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online June 2022). † stirn.² Etymology: Variant or alteration of sir n. Scottish colloquial. Obsolete. = sir n. 7a. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous forms of address or title > [noun] > for a man liefc907 goodmanOE beausirec1300 sir1320 lede1377 fatherhood1461 gallant1488 fatherhead?a1500 Mr?a1640 gallantissimoa1681 mister1734 massa1766 sieur1772 stira1796 master1798 zurr1803 sieur1812 squire1828 guv'nor1843 Mistah1853 sor1891 suh1894 a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 321 Guid faith quo' cho I doubt you Stir [1808 Sir]. 1816 W. Scott Old Mortality viii, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 162 Troth, stir,..neshessity, stir—I'm seeking for service, stir. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online March 2021). stirn.³ Brit. /stəː/, U.S. /stər/ Etymology: Origin unknown. slang. A prison. Also without article, esp. in in stir. ΘΚΠ society > authority > punishment > imprisonment > prison > [noun] quarternOE prisona1200 jailc1275 lodgec1290 galleya1300 chartrea1325 ward1338 keepingc1384 prison-house1419 lying-house1423 javel1483 tollbooth1488 kidcotec1515 clinkc1530 warding-place1571 the hangman's budget1589 Newgate1592 gehenna1594 Lob's pound1597 caperdewsie1599 footman's inn1604 cappadochio1607 pena1640 marshalsea1652 log-house1662 bastille1663 naskin1673 state prison1684 tronk1693 stone-doublet1694 iron or stone doublet1698 college1699 nask1699 quod1699 shop1699 black hole1707 start1735 coop1785 blockhouse1796 stone jug1796 calaboose1797 factory1806 bull-pen1809 steel1811 jigger1812 jug1815 kitty1825 rock pile1830 bughouse1842 zindan1844 model1845 black house1846 tench1850 mill1851 stir1851 hoppet1855 booby hatch1859 caboose1865 cooler1872 skookum house1873 chokey1874 gib1877 nick1882 choker1884 logs1888 booby house1894 big house1905 hoosegow1911 can1912 detention camp1916 pokey1919 slammer1952 joint1953 slam1960 1851 H. Mayhew London Labour I. 421/1 I was in Brummagem, and was seven days in the new ‘stir’ (prison). 1896 A. Morrison Child of Jago 313 A man has time to think things out, in stir. 1907 Times 2 July 15/3 The prisoner..said, ‘It is all right. I'll go to stir (prison) over this lot. I did not intend to kill her.’ 1926 J. Black You can't Win xv. 197 He was in good spirits and condition after ‘stopping his jolt’ in the stir and anxious to start ‘rooting’. 1939 J. Steinbeck Grapes of Wrath ii. 19 When you been in stir a little while, you can smell a question comin' from hell to breakfast. 1970 G. F. Newman Sir, You Bastard ii. 79 Tasting stir, Goldby suddenly realized he was the wrong side of thirty for acquiring the habit. 1977 ‘E. Crispin’ Glimpses of Moon xii. 250 You get better conditions than that in stir. Compounds (Designating) a person deranged, etc., by long imprisonment, esp. as stir-crazy. Also figurative. Criminals' slang (chiefly U.S.). ΘΚΠ society > authority > punishment > imprisonment > prisoner > [noun] > mentally disturbed prisoner stir-crazy1908 Muppet1988 society > authority > punishment > imprisonment > prisoner > [adjective] > mentally disturbed by prison stir-crazy1950 1908 J. M. Sullivan Criminal Slang 24 Stir crazy, prison crazy, a man whose mind has become affected by serving long sentences. 1924 G. C. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 419 Stir bugs, prison crazy. 1925 Flynn's 18 Apr. 116/2 Stir-bug, one whose mentality has been broken by confinement in prison. 1926 Clues Nov. 162/2 Stir-simple, been in so long they are losing their mind. 1929 M. A. Gill Underworld Slang 10/2 Stir nut, convict effected [sic] by long confinement. 1929 M. A. Gill Underworld Slang 10/2 Stir simple, convict effected by long confinement. 1932 ‘Spindrift’ Yankee Slang 60 Stir crazy, nervous dread of free convicts who have served a long term and fear to return to prison. 1935 N. Ersine Underworld & Prison Slang 72 Stirnuts, mentally hazy because of long imprisonment. 1939 J. Steinbeck Grapes of Wrath iv. 36 I wonder what the stir-bug I got for a cell-mate is doin'. 1939 J. Steinbeck Grapes of Wrath xvi. 241 Maybe I'm kinda stir-nuts. 1939 J. Steinbeck Grapes of Wrath xx. 342 If say a fella's goin' stir-bugs..why, you know it 'fore it happens. 1950 H. E. Goldin Dict. Amer. Underworld Lingo 212/2 I must be gettin' stir-bugs or blowing my top (going insane) altogether. 1950 H. Patterson & E. Conrad Scottsboro Boy ii. vii. 133 Howard was stir-crazy. He would go around the prison saying to anybody about anybody, ‘I kill the sonofabitch, I sure kill the sonofabitch.’ 1956 P. I. Wellman Death on Prairie xxiv. 225 The latter came back after two years in prison with his mind gone— ‘stir simple’ to use a modern slang phrase. 1960 Washington Post 29 Jan. a14 A Democratic President would go ‘stir crazy’ without a depression or war to occupy his time. 1972 J. Wambaugh Blue Knight v. 74 She's..an ex-con and stir crazy as hell... She's got a phobia about jails. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online March 2022). stirv. Brit. /stəː/, U.S. /stər/ Forms: Inflected stirred, stirring. Forms: α. Old English styrian, Middle English sturie (Middle English styry), Middle English sture, Middle English–1700s stire, Middle English–1500s styrre, Middle English–1600s stirre, Middle English–1500s sterre, Middle English–1700s styre, Middle English–1500s styr, Middle English–1600s stur(re, 1500s–1600s stirr, Middle English– stir. β. Middle English–1600s stere, Middle English steore, Middle English steri(e, Scottish steyr(e, Middle English–1500s ster, (Middle English infinitive stern), Middle English–1600s Scottish steir, Middle English stear, steure, Middle English–1500s stier(e, (Scottish steire), Middle English–1800s (chiefly Scottish and northern) steer, 1500s steere, 1500s–1600s steare. γ. Middle English storie, Middle English storre, Middle English–1500s store, 1500s stoure, stowre, stoore. Etymology: Old English styrian corresponds to Middle Swedish styra or styria (once; the reading is doubtful), Norwegian styrja to make a disturbance (? Danish for-styrre to disturb, influenced by German verstören ) < Germanic type sturjan , related to sturi-z (masculine), a stir, disturbance (Old Norse styr-r , Norwegian styr ); the same Germanic root, according to some scholars, appears in sturmo-z storm n. An ablaut-variant staurjan is believed to be represented in Old Frisian to-stêra, Old Saxon to-stôrian to destroy (Middle Dutch, modern Dutch storen to disturb), Old High German stôrren, stôran (Middle High German stœren, Low German, modern German stören to disturb, whence Swedish störa). For the phonology of the β forms (chiefly northern), compare speer v.¹, where the northern form is the only one common in literary use, and is therefore adopted as the typical form in the Dictionary. I. Transitive senses. 1. a. To move, set in motion; esp. to give a slight or tremulous movement to; to move to and fro; to shake, agitate. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > cause to move [verb (transitive)] stira1023 icchec1175 wawc1290 movea1382 remble1579 rouse1582 agitate1592 act1597 to put in (also into, to) motion1597 activate1624 actuate1641 animate1646 ferment1667 to feague away1671 to carry about1680 excite1694 jee1722 bestir1813 emotion1831 to set on1855 send1864 motion1929 the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > agitate [verb (transitive)] > stir stira1023 to stir up1340 rowa1400 rore1440 rout?1440 rummage1591 rumble1724 the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > vibration > vibrate [verb (transitive)] > shake reseeOE swengea1000 shakeOE stira1023 rogglea1398 bitaltc1400 rogc1400 shigc1440 warble1510 brangle1513 shatter1533 wap1570 goggle1576 esbrandill1588 concute1599 quakea1616 beshake1664 α. a1023 Wulfstan Homilies xlix. 255 Ic mine hearpan genam and mine strengas styrian ongan. c1220 Bestiary 520 Storm stireð al ðe se. a1400 King & Hermit 477 The frere gaff hym a bow in hond... He myȝt oneth styre þe streng. c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 6 Þe watyr in þe se is styred wyth þe wynde. 1536 Storys & Prophesis Script. M j The earthe hath bene styrred and hath quaked. 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. ii. 4 When a thing lies still, unlesse somewhat els stirre it, it will lye still for ever. 1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna iii. xxx. 72 The shrill sea-wind, whose breath idly stirred My hair. 1847 G. P. R. James Convict iv A brisk gale stirring the air. 1887 F. Francis Saddle & Mocassin 123 ‘Get up, or I'll beat the stuffing out of you!’ he says mildly, stirring the reins at the same time. β. c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame 817 Euerych ayre other stereth More and more and speche vpbereth.?1527 Iudycyall of Vryns ii. viii. 34 Whan..the humours be moche Agitat and moued and stered in the vessels.1567 A. Golding tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) v. f. 62 Calliope..with hir thumbe gan steare The quiuering strings.?1615 G. Chapman tr. Homer Odysses (new ed.) xxi. 324 He warm'd and suppl'd it, yet could not stere To any draught, the string [of the bow], with all his Art. b. To move (a limb or member); chiefly, now almost always, in negative or similar expressions: to make any or the slightest movement with.to stir one's stumps: see to stir one's stumps at stump n.¹ 1c. †to stir one's tail (Sc. obsolete), to bestir oneself, make a disturbance. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > bodily movement > move (the body or a member) [verb (transitive)] > move (a member) stir?c1225 wawc1290 remove1483 wag1596 the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > stir up or rouse up stirc1000 aweccheOE stirc1175 arear?c1225 awakec1315 amovec1330 araisec1374 wake1398 wakenc1400 to stir upa1500 incend?1504 to firk upc1540 bestir1549 store1552 bustlea1555 tickle1567 solicitate1568 to stir one's taila1572 exsuscitate1574 rouse1574 suscitate1598 accite1600 actuate1603 arousea1616 poach1632 roust1658 to shake up1850 to galvanize to or into life1853 to make things (or something specified) hum1884 to jack up1914 rev1945 α. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 105 Ase brid hwenne he fleon wule stureð hise wengen. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 8702 He..sturede [c1300 Otho storede] his tunge al-se he bede sunge. 1388 J. Wyclif Psalms xxi[i]. 8 Alle men seynge me scorneden me; thei..stiriden the heed. c1440 Alphabet of Tales 96 He garte bynd hym þer so with rapis, þat he myght nowder stur hand nor fute. 1547 W. Baldwin Treat. Morall Phylos. i. xviii. sig. Ev Socrates..vsed somtyme through vehemencie of hys communication, to shake his hand, and styrre his fynger. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. vii. sig. Ii7 Vnable to arise, or foot or hand to styre. 1676 C. Hatton in E. M. Thompson Corr. Family of Hatton (1878) I. 134 They..soe bruised his arme y^t he wase never able to stirr it after. 1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 369. ¶9 The Gods..do not stir their Feet, nor proceed Step by Step. 1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward II. x. 244 ‘I will not stir a foot’, said the Countess, obstinately. 1825 W. Scott Talisman iii, in Tales Crusaders III. 77 Thy companion had been slain by thy side,..without thy stirring a finger in his aid. 1887 J. Payn Holiday Tasks 65 Sometimes he would sign anything in the most obliging manner, and sometimes refuse to stir a finger. β. 1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xvii. 54 He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde ne stere fote ne handes.c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 116 He þat..with spekyng sterys his hondes, he ys fowl, eloquent, and deceyuant.a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in Wks. (1848) II. 331 Hir Uncles war begyning to steir thair taill [v.r. taills], and to truble the hoill Realme of France.a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 412 Auchtorite nor power spreitwall..micht nocht that tyme prevaill quhan Dame Curia began to steir hir taill.1609 J. Skene tr. Baron Courts in Regiam Majestatem xv. 104 b The quhilk partie, sall say, in this maner incontinent, fra the dome be given or he steir his taes, quhere his heill stude. †c. To move about (something held in or grasped by the hand); to wield (a weapon); to brandish, flourish; to actuate, manage, ply (an instrument or mechanical appliance). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > move in specific manner [verb (transitive)] > flourish or brandish shakec1000 stirc1275 wagc1300 brandisha1340 flourishc1384 swinga1400 swinglec1450 ruffle?1562 sweak1567 vambrash1577 sway1590 swinge1605 to fetch about1609 wave1609 wheel1617 evibrate1654 c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1099 Heo stureden [c1300 Otho storeden] heora wepnan. c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 331 Now hatȝ Arthure his axe, & þe halme grypeȝ, & sturnely sturez [MS reads stureȝ] hit aboute. 1575 G. Gascoigne Glasse of Gouernem. 2nd Chorus sig. F To stir an ore, in euery forward boate. 1603 J. Davies Microcosmos 145 He..left a Sonne..Who being yong, could not yet stirre the sterne. 1607 W. Alexander Julius Cæsar ii. i. S 1 Th' insolent..Stirre now their tongues, as we did then our swords. †d. To send forth, utter, cause to be heard (a voice or sound); also, to make (a gesture). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > thing heard > make sound [verb (transitive)] stira1000 sendc1200 movea1382 raisec1400 demean1483 emit1826 society > communication > indication > gesturing or gesture > make gestures [verb (transitive)] givec1175 stirc1614 a1000 Boeth. Metr. xiii. 49 Þonne hi geherað hleoðrum brægdan oðre fugelas, hi heora agne stefne styriað. a1300 Cursor Mundi 24101 Mi steuen þat i was wont to stere, Vn~nethes moght i self it here. c1614 W. Mure tr. Virgil Dido & Æneas ii. in Wks. (1898) I. 529 So still he stands, nor voyce nor gesture steirs. †e. To cause to move along or away; to drive, convey, impel; also figurative. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] driveeOE sendc950 stira1300 enforce1340 swayc1400 compel1447 force1582 impel1611 impulse1611 to set gone?1611 to knock on1642 pulse1666 command1680 a1300 Cursor Mundi 29546 Cursing..steres his cristendame fro, and liuers him to þe find his foo. c1410 Sir Cleges 150 Sche hym comforttyd..Hys sorowe away to stere. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 3709 A shippe, Þat was stird with the storme streght out of warde. 1575 T. Churchyard 1st Pt. Chippes f. 93 ^v Your dealyngs rash, and wretched reuels rued With sticks did stoer, from hiue the quiet Bees. f. To move (something) from its place; to shift, displace. Chiefly (now always) with negative or its equivalent (implying ineffectual effort): (to be unable) to move or shift in the slightest degree. ? Now rare or Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)] stira1000 unsheathec1374 removea1398 shifta1400 disroom1489 supplant1534 unplacec1550 displace1552 unperch1578 dislodge1579 unsiege1594 disnest1596 unroost1598 unset1602 unseat1611 dis-element1612 dishabita1616 dislocate1623 disroota1625 disseata1625 rede1638 discardinate1648 disturb1664 disblock1665 start1676 uproot1695 disrest1696 disconcert1744 disannul1794 deplace1839 delocalize1855 disembed1885 disniche1889 α. a1000 Boeth. Metr. vii. 25 Swa bioð anra gehwæs monna modsefan miclum awegede, of hiora stede styrede. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 8686 Ȝif ȝe hine [sc. a stone] maȝen sturien. c1330 Arth. & Merl. 2832 King Nanters..No miȝt it [sc. the sword] drawe out of þe ston, Ne no gentil man of priis No miȝt it ones stiren. c1450 Mirk's Festial 274 He layde hond to Martyns body,..but he myght not sture hit by no craft þat he cowthe. a1628 J. Preston Breast-plate of Faith (1630) 57 If you take other metall than Iron, the Load-stone will not stirre it. 1700 Moxon's Mech. Exercises: Bricklayers-wks. 42 Take away the Center Rule, but stir not the Wainscot. 1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 144 A great Block of hard Wood..as big as I had Strength to stir. 1759 R. Jackson Hist. Rev. Pennsylvania Add. iv Laying heavy Burdens on Men's Shoulders, which they themselves would not stir with a single Finger. β. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Wisd. iv. 19 He shal..stern hem [L. commovebit; a1425 L.V. moue hem] fro the foundemens.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 16568 Þeþen moght þai for na might it stere a fote o strete.1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) v. l. 425 The Gask hall standand..With-out harme, nocht sterd off it a stane.1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos v. sig. N.j^v Your prises certayn ben, shall no man them from order stere. g. To rouse or disturb with a push. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > impact > striking > striking in specific manner > strike in specific manner [verb (transitive)] > strike with pushing action > give a push to poteOE puta1225 duncha1250 wag1377 pusha1450 jut1565 jog1589 stir1590 jolt1611 hunch1659 shtup1987 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. v. sig. Q4^v His steed..fomed yre, When with the maistring spur he did him roughly stire. a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 323 The rams would keep moving and stirring the ewes all night in the fold. 1891 R. Kipling Light that Failed ix. 194 Binkie turned over on his back on the hearth-rug, and Dick stirred him with a meditative foot. 2. reflexive. To move oneself or one's limbs; to move or walk about; to take bodily exercise; to move from one's place. (Rarely of inanimate things.) Now rare or Obsolete; replaced by the intransitive use (11, 12). ΘΚΠ the world > movement > bodily movement > move body or members [verb (reflexive)] stirc888 move?a1425 disturb1831 c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxxv. §7 Þa stanas hi styredon for þy swege. c1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 316 He sceal gan & hyne styrian. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 5138 He miht noght stir him of þat sted. 1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur viii. viii. 284 He myȝt not..vnnethe stere hym of his lymmes. 1561 J. Hollybush tr. H. Brunschwig Most Excellent Homish Apothecarye f. 44^v Let him walke and steare himself without ceasynge. 1705 F. Fuller Medicina Gymnastica 25 The more a Man stirs himself, the more Animal Spirits are made in the Brain. 1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust II. ii. iii. 141 Stir yourselves, ye whispering rushes. 3. To agitate with the hand or an implement so as to alter the relative position of the parts of: a. (a) a liquid, or a soft or semi-liquid mass; esp. to agitate with a more or less circular continuous movement, as with a spoon, so as to mix the particles or promote solution of solid matter; also (rarely) to ‘trouble’, render turbid. Also with adverb, as about, round. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > liquid > [verb (transitive)] > stir up or render turbid stirc1000 blend1384 trouble1579 puddle1593 mud1594 muddy1617 drummle1635 blunder1655 muddy1669 muddle1676 inturbidate1684 to shake up1753 the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] > by kneading, stirring, etc. > by stirring stirc1000 to stir up1340 stira1475 card1591 coil1674 α. c1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 76 Styre mid sticcan. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 8936 Ilk dai..þar lighted dun.. Angels,..For to stir þe stang. c1440 Pallad. on Husb. xii. 588 Let stire hit wel and aysel mynge into. ?1530 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry (rev. ed.) f. xxii Put all in to the sayd panne and styrre it aboute. 1553 R. Horne tr. J. Calvin Certaine Homilies i. sig. Dviij^v But what nede we herin to stirre the truth, as yf we shuld bloundre and trouble a water that is pure and clear. 1579 S. Gosson Schoole of Abuse f. 3^v Amplifying that, which the more it is stirred, the more it stinkes. 1640 T. Brugis Marrow of Physicke ii. 151 Set them off the fire, and with the backe of a Spoone, stirre them. 1769 E. Raffald Experienced Eng. House-keeper viii. 201 Keep stirring it gently all the Time. 1807 W. Wordsworth Resolution & Independence in Poems I. 94 He the Pond Stirred with his Staff, and fixedly did look Upon the muddy water. 1905 R. Bagot Passport xxi. 212 Idly stirring her little cup of black coffee. 1915 ‘F. Anstey’ Percy 121 To be home in time to stir our Christmas pudding. β. 1375 in Horstmann Altengl. Leg. (1878) 138/1 God sente eche day an angel..And to þat tre he wente..Þe water þanne sterede ful son.c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 85 Lat þe sethinge be steryd and strenyd to it bycome cleer.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ezek. xxxii. 12 The catell..shal come no~more vpon the waters: so that nether mans fote ner beastes clawe, shal stere them eny more.1786 R. Burns Holy Fair xx, in Poems 50 Sit round the table..An' steer about the toddy.1878 R. De B. Trotter Galloway Gossip Sixty Years Ago (ed. 2) 222 He had yin Micht a served for a spurtel for steerin his brose. (b) To mix (in, together, etc.) by stirring. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] > by kneading, stirring, etc. > by stirring stirc1000 to stir up1340 stira1475 card1591 coil1674 a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 30 Do wyne þerto and venegur gode, Sture hom wele togeder. 1599 A. M. tr. O. Gaebelkhover Bk. Physicke 180/1 Take..whyt leade, & stirr it therin. 1599 A. M. tr. O. Gaebelkhover Bk. Physicke 183/1 Then stirr them al together, & let it stand. c1770 H. Glasse Compl. Confectioner 17 Stir in the sugar by degrees. 1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. vi. 173 More water should then be added, and the whole stirred together. 1915 ‘F. Anstey’ Percy 124 The tokens were bound to turn up, as I had stirred them well into the pudding with my own hand. (c) absol. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > move irregularly or be agitated [verb (intransitive)] > stir (through, in, among, etc.) pudder1601 stir1712 kirn1869 1712 P. Motteux 2nd Pt. Don Quixote (1749) III. xii. 91 The more ye stir, the more 'twill stink. 1804 ‘Ignotus’ Culina 150 When held over the fire, stir only one way. 1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel The more you stir in it the more it stinks. b. a collection of solid bodies or particles; esp. to poke (burning coals, a fire) so as to promote combustion. to stir coals (fig.): see coal n. Phrases 3b. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > agitate [verb (transitive)] > stir > solid bodies or particles stira1325 α. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3580 He..dede ðat calf melten in fir, And stired it al to dust sir. c1386 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Prol. & Tale 725 He stired the coles. ?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Hiv To styre the fire, tiser. 1765 Museum Rusticum 4 467 The [flax] seed..must be stirred every two or three days. 1888 ‘J. S. Winter’ Bootle's Children ii. 13 Seizing the poker and stirring the fire vigorously. β. 1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos v. sig. O.iij He steres the sleping brandes, And Troian sacred fyer.a1794 Donocht-Head 21 in Burns' Wks. (1809) IV. 176 I'll steer my fire, I'll make it bleeze a bonnie flame.1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads I. 348 He steer'd the ingle, and dichtit his beik. c. soil or earth, as with an agricultural implement; spec. to plough across the furrows made by a former ploughing. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > breaking up land > break up land [verb (transitive)] > stir soil stir1483 ameuble1725 α. 1483 Cath. Angl. 365/1 To Styr lande, barectare. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xlvii He wolde haue his landes plowed, donged, sturred, or sowen. 1686 tr. J. Chardin Trav. Persia 125 The Earth had been stirr'd. 1731 J. Tull New Horse-houghing Husbandry 116 This Sort of Land must not be stirred, i.e. ploughed the second time in wet Weather. 1842 J. C. Loudon Suburban Horticulturist 127 There is no mode of stirring the soil, whether by picks, forks, or hoes, which may not be performed with this implement [spade]. β. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. x^v The rayne shall bete y^e lande so flatte, bake it so harde togyther that & a drye May come it wyll be to harde to stere in the moneth of June.1843 Hardy in Hist. Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 2 No. 11. 63 The ground for the barley crop..required to be twice..ploughed; once in the back end, and again in spring,—the latter process being termed ‘steering the barley seed.’ 4. figurative. To move from a fixed or quiet condition; to disturb, trouble, molest; to put into tumult or confusion, to upset. Obsolete exc. dialect, or as merged in other senses. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > commotion, disturbance, or disorder > throw into commotion or disorder [verb (transitive)] stirc950 disturbc1290 troublec1330 turmoil1530 to set cock on the hoopa1549 garboil1572 blend1594 irrequiate1598 storm1609 uproara1616 embroil1619 dissettle1631 unsettle1651 hurly-burly1678 unhinge1679 disrest1726 commote1852 α. c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Mark v. 35 Huætd lengc styres ðu [L. vexas] ðone laruu? 1154 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) ann. 1140 Þa was al Engle land styred mar þan ær wæs. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 196 Schuldest þu..naut grimme þein heorte & sturien into wreððe. a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xii. 5 If þai stire vs fra stabilnes of thoght. c1400 Laud Troy Bk. 4868 That the Gregeis vs not sterre, To take oure toun with arte and scleght. 1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor Induct. sig. Bii I will not stirre your patience. View more context for this quotation a1607 H. Chettle Trag. Hoffman (1631) sig. B 2 Sweare..to ayd assist me, not to stirre Or contradict me in any enterprise. c1620 Hist. Feuds & Confl. Clans (1818) 31 Angus Macconald,..did not stir the pledges [hostages], who were innocent of what was done unto his lands in his absence. 1637 J. Milton Comus 13 I doe not thinke my sister..So unprincipl'd..As that the single want of light, and noise..Could stir the constant mood of her calme thoughts. β. c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde i. 228 (Harl. 1239) He..wende nothyng had hade suche myght A-ȝen his wille that schulde his hert stere.c1394 P. Pl. Crede 829 Studye þou nouȝt þeron ne stere þi wittes.c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Gouernaunce of Princis (1993) i. 62 He yat all steris and misgouernis.a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Trial of Fox l. 929 in Poems (1981) 39 My micht is merciabill And steiris nane that ar to me prostrait.a1563 J. Bale King Johan (1969) i. 852 I pray the, sedycyon, my pacyens no more stere.1786 R. Burns Twa Dogs xxvii, in Poems 19 Nae cauld nor hunger e'er can steer them.1816 W. Scott Old Mortality xiii, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. IV. 275 Nane durst steer me when he was in power. 5. a. To rouse from rest or inaction; to excite to movement or activity. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > stir up or rouse up stirc1000 aweccheOE stirc1175 arear?c1225 awakec1315 amovec1330 araisec1374 wake1398 wakenc1400 to stir upa1500 incend?1504 to firk upc1540 bestir1549 store1552 bustlea1555 tickle1567 solicitate1568 to stir one's taila1572 exsuscitate1574 rouse1574 suscitate1598 accite1600 actuate1603 arousea1616 poach1632 roust1658 to shake up1850 to galvanize to or into life1853 to make things (or something specified) hum1884 to jack up1914 rev1945 c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 5845 Þurrh þatt te faderr gaþ þær to. & stireþþ itt. & waccneþþ. c1550 Battle of Otterburn iii, in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1889) III. vi. 295/1 Vpon Grene Lynton they lyghted dowyn, Styrande many a stage. 1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 585 The Leopard when he was stirred ranne too and fro distracted. a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. i. 175 Nay, then 'tis time to stirre him from his trance. View more context for this quotation 1816 W. Scott Antiquary III. vii. 143 He's steered the town to get awa' an express to fetch his carriage. 1829 W. Scott Anne of Geierstein III. iii. 77 Follow forth your own..objects, without stirring a nest of hornets. †b. To excite to activity, to stimulate (a bodily function, ‘humour’, etc.): also with the person as object. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > stir up or rouse up stirc1000 aweccheOE stirc1175 arear?c1225 awakec1315 amovec1330 araisec1374 wake1398 wakenc1400 to stir upa1500 incend?1504 to firk upc1540 bestir1549 store1552 bustlea1555 tickle1567 solicitate1568 to stir one's taila1572 exsuscitate1574 rouse1574 suscitate1598 accite1600 actuate1603 arousea1616 poach1632 roust1658 to shake up1850 to galvanize to or into life1853 to make things (or something specified) hum1884 to jack up1914 rev1945 c1000 [implied in: Sax. Leechd. II. 106 Sele him oft styrgendne drenc. (at stirring adj. 3a)]. c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 73 Somer tyme ys hoot and drye, and þanne þe rede colere ys steryd. 1493 Chastysing Goddes Chyldern (de Worde) vii. sig. Bii^v/1 The wyckyd humours ben styred. and make the stomocke replete. 1609 T. Dekker Guls Horne-bk. sig. F1 ^v Capon is a stirring meate sometime. 1686 tr. J. Chardin Trav. Persia 235 The Remedy..that kills in one Country, does but only stir a Man in another. †c. to stir one's time: to make vigorous use of one's opportunity. Scottish. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > have the opportunity [verb (intransitive)] > take the opportunity to make hay while the sun shines1546 to take occasion by the foretopa1577 to stir one's timea1578 to fill one's boots1969 a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) II. 30 Seing this devissioun amangis the nobilietie of Scotland, they steirit thair tyme and wssit thair weiris the mair scharpelie. 1591 R. Bruce Serm. Edinb. sig. S7^v His enemies were aloft, sturring their time, rageing in murther, oppression and bloode. †6. a. reflexive. To bestir oneself; to be active; to act briskly or energetically; in early use often, to fight valiantly. Obsolete (replaced by bestir; see also 14). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin an action [verb (reflexive)] > bestir oneself stira1225 awakec1275 bestirc1300 bustlea1555 rouse1587 the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > engage vigorously [verb (reflexive)] > be brisk or active stira1225 α. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 5084 Heo ferde forð-rihtes..& stureden heom-seoluen. 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 3663 Þe king adde er among þe scottes ystured him uol wel. c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 1082 He stird him as akniȝt. 1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 22^v Good husbandry lusteth him selfe for to stir. β. a1300 Cursor Mundi 23757 If we stitli all wil vs ster, crist help sal be us ner.c1400 Gamelyn 515 Stere the, good Adam, and lat ther noon flee.1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur xviii. xvii. 755 When he was vpon his hors he stered hym fyersly.c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 60 [He] sa stoutly sterit him amang thame..yat thare durst nane cum on him, allane.γ. a1225 St. Marher. 14 Hwen..he letten me nawt, ne ne storið hamseolf,..ich leade ham..iþe ladliche lake of þe suti sunne.c1275 Laȝamon Brut 15254 Hahtliche ȝou storieþ. b. To begin to act; to busy oneself to do something: = 14b. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin an action [verb (reflexive)] > bestir oneself > to do something stirc1425 c1425 Engl. Conquest Ireland (1896) 86 None Iresshe-man ne durst hym styrre, wer to begynne. 1870 J. H. Burton Hist. Scotl. to 1688 V. lv. 341 The..French ambassador..stirred himself not only to keep this project alive, but to bring it to a practical conclusion. 7. a. To move to action, urge, incite, instigate, stimulate. Also formerly in weaker or more general sense: To prompt, induce, persuade. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > cause to move [verb (transitive)] > put in continuous or effective motion stirc897 workOE move?a1425 the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate stirc897 putOE sputc1175 prokec1225 prickc1230 commovec1374 baitc1378 stingc1386 movea1398 eager?a1400 pokec1400 provokea1425 tollc1440 cheera1450 irritec1450 encourage1483 incite1483 harden1487 attice1490 pricklea1522 to set on1523 incense1531 irritate1531 animate1532 tickle1532 stomach1541 instigate1542 concitea1555 upsteer1558 urge1565 instimulate1570 whip1573 goad1579 raise1581 to set upa1586 to call ona1592 incitate1597 indarec1599 alarm1602 exstimulate1603 to put on1604 feeze1610 impulse1611 fomentate1613 emovec1614 animalize1617 stimulate1619 spura1644 trinkle1685 cite1718 to put up1812 prod1832 to jack up1914 goose1934 the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate > bring about by incitement stirc897 forthclepe?c1000 raisec1175 entice1297 rearc1325 excitea1340 arta1450 provocate?a1475 suscitate1528 to stir upc1530 provoke1535 store1552 concitea1555 upsteer1558 spirit1598 solicit1602 foment1606 fana1616 proritate1620 incite1627 ferment1660 spirita1680 brush1755 whip1805 to put (also set) (the) spurs to1819 fillipa1822 instigate1852 spark-plug1945 whomp1961 α. c897 K. Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care 175 S[u]a sceal æghwelc lareow to anre lufan..mid mislicum manungum his hieremonna mod styrigean. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 105 Þe þencheð upward beoreð ham þet beoð of gode þeawes. þet ha mote sturien into gode werkes. 1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience Prol. 154 Som thyng..Þat myght styrre þam to gude lyfyng. 1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience Prol. 157 To knaw þat, myght þam stir and lede Til mekenes. a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Deut. xxxii. 11 As an egle stirynge his briddis to fle [L. provocans ad volandum pullos suos]. 1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. v. 122 To take away all the thynges that miht styre or meue his men to lecherye. 1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 8 b The onely namyng of theim, will stirre honest hartes, to speake well of them. a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) ii. i. 63 An Ate [printed Ace] stirring him to bloud and strife. View more context for this quotation 1781 W. Cowper Charity 118 He..Imports what others have invented well, And stirs his own to match them, or excel. 1821 W. Scott Kenilworth I. xii. 294 Can ye not stir his mind to any pastimes? 1858 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (ed. 2) III. xiii. 163 The untruth of the stories by which they had been stirred to rebellion. 1893 H. D. Traill Social Eng. Introd. p. xxxii The Revival of Letters stirred the human mind into more vigorous activity. β. 1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 5186 Hyt steryþ a man hym self to slo.138. J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 149 Who ever stere men to yvel lyfe.c1440 J. Capgrave Life St. Katherine v. 1679 Men wil wene that thou be ny wood To sle th[is] puple..And lete me scape whiche stered hem alle.c1470 in Som. & Dorset Notes & Queries (1905) Sept. 303 [He] provokid and stered his saide Dogge to renne uppon youre saide Bysecher.1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid vi. i. 102 To ask ansueris Now is the tyme; lo, lo, the God me steris!1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. 1 Pet. i. f. ii Being prouoked by no merites of ours, but stiered frely of his owne mercye.1657 T. Burton Diary (1828) I. 415 I hope, that neither the humour of..unwise people, nor yet..[etc.] shall steer me to give other than such an answer as may be ingenuous and thankful. †b. To urge with a view to persuasion, try to persuade, exhort, entreat. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate > try to persuade stirc1380 pressc1440 fanda1500 attempta1547 invite1548 procure1551 to threap (something) upon1571 to set upon ——1652 flog1793 α. c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 41 I conseile, amoneste, and stire my freris. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 177 Petir stireth tho same men for to haue pacience. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. P.viii This younge manne,..was importunately stirred by his naturall friendes. 1560 T. Ingelend Disobedient Child H j You hearde that by Sentences auncient and olde He styred his Sonne as he best thought. β. c1440 Gesta Romanorum (Add. MS.) xlii. 127 A man..sterid his sone to gete hym frendes.1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer i. f. cccxxxiii Ofte gan Loue to sterne [read steren] me these wordes.1544 R. Tracy Supplycacion to Kynge Henry VIII sig. Aiiij The holy ghoste, which moueth & steareth vs euer to mortefye the fleshe. 8. a. To excite to feeling, emotion, or passion; to ‘move’, affect. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > quality of affecting the emotions > affect with emotion [verb (transitive)] rineOE afaite?c1225 stir?c1225 movea1325 amovec1380 inspire1390 commove1393 informa1398 toucha1400 embracec1430 rore1481 alter1529 to carry away?1529 raise1533 removea1540 heavec1540 affect?1548 carry1570 inmove1583 infecta1586 worka1616 unthaw1699 emove1835 emotionize1855 emotion1875 the mind > emotion > excitement > exciting > excite [verb (transitive)] astirc1000 stir?c1225 araisec1374 entalentc1374 flamec1380 reara1382 raisec1384 commove1393 kindlea1400 fluster1422 esmove1474 talent1486 heavec1540 erect?1555 inflame1560 to set on gog1560 yark1565 tickle1567 flesh1573 concitate1574 rouse1574 warmc1580 agitate1587 spirit1598 suscitate1598 fermentate1599 nettle1599 startle1602 worka1616 exagitate1621 foment1621 flush1633 exacuatea1637 ferment1667 to work up1681 pique1697 electrify1748 rattle1781 pump1791 to touch up1796 excite1821 to key up1835 to steam up1909 jazz1916 steam1922 volt1930 whee1949 to fire up1976 geek1984 α. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 218 Asichðe þet þu sist oðer an lewi word þet þu mis herest. ȝef hit eawet stureð þe. cwenh hit wið teares water. c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 2795 Alas! loue, wo dost þou me þov sturest al my blod. 1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Matt. xxi. 10 Whan he had entrid in to Jerusalem, al the cite was stirid, seyinge, who is this? c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke xv. 20 Whanne he was ȝit fer, his fadir syȝ him, and he was stirid [a1425 L.V. stirrid] by mercy. c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xiii. 58 A wikked man..kest a brynnand fyrebrand at oure Lord for to stirre him til ire. 1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 92 b Anye one that myndeth by hys vtteraunce to stirre the hartes of menne. 1630 R. Norton tr. W. Camden Hist. Princesse Elizabeth i. 21 The Bishop of Rome..being now more stirred, commanded Sir Edwad Carne..to lay down his Office of Embassadour. 1799 W. Wordsworth Fountain 30 My eyes are dim with childish tears, My heart is idly stirred. 1866 A. Trollope Belton Estate I. ix. 219 Words..that really stir the soul, and bring true comfort to the listener. 1888 A. Jessopp Coming of Friars iii. 113 The story of a great man's life still stirs the heart. β. a1400–50 Wars Alex. 4256 Leue ȝe noȝt we be to heȝe ne hauten of will..or sterid to enuy.c1480 (a1400) St. Martha 321 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 294 To compuncione þu [? read þe] suld steyre, þe instance of myn prayer sere.1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) clx. 235 By thyse wordes were the barons gretely stered and meuyd.1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 735/1 Beware thou stere him nat to anger.1581 A. Hall tr. Homer 10 Bks. Iliades iv. 66 Then Agamemn appeard No whit to yeelde,..or ought with feare was steard.γ. c1440 Gesta Romanorum (Harl.) xlvi. 181 Whenne Ionathas sawe hir, he was I-storid to an vnlawfull maner of love. b. To affect with strong emotion; to move strongly (a person, his spirit, ‘blood’, etc.). ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > passion > affect with passion or strong emotion [verb (transitive)] passion1467 stir1490 passionate1566 appassionate1589 impassion1591 earnest1603 impassionatea1641 to move a person's blood1697 1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) ii. 15 That sore mouyd and styryd his noble and hyghe corage. 1619 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Maides Trag. i. sig. B1^v The musicke must be shrill and all confus'd That stirs my blood. 1823 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto VIII lv. 138 So was his blood stirred while he found resistance. 1905 R. Bagot Passport xxvi. 279 The news of Sor Beppe's dismissal from the office of fattore had stirred public opinion in and around Montefiano to its depths. 9. To excite, occasion. a. To excite or provoke (passion); to prompt, evoke or occasion (anger, hatred, affection, suspicion, also †laughter, fear, etc.); formerly in wider use, †to occasion (an event, mental or bodily condition). ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > quality of affecting the emotions > affect with emotion [verb (transitive)] > cause or give rise to an emotion rearOE arear?c1225 annoyc1300 movea1325 excite1393 raisea1400 lighta1413 stirc1430 provokec1450 provocate?a1475 rendera1522 to stir upc1530 excitate?1549 inspire1576 yield1576 to turn up1579 rouse1589 urge1594 incense1598 upraisea1600 upreara1600 irritate1612 awakena1616 recreate1643 pique1697 arouse1730 unlull1743 energize1753 evocate1827 evoke1856 vibe1977 α. c1000 Ælfric Homilies II. 298 Ne dranc he wines drenc, ne nan ðæra wætena þe druncennysse styriað. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 148 Þe..is of unvte speche. ȝelpeð..gabbeð..stureð lachtre. c1430 in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems 197 To stire mi wraþþe þou wolt a-saye. c1450 Mirk's Festial 158 Forto styre your deuocyon. 1538 T. Elyot Dict. Conflare inuidiam, inimicitias, odium, to stire or procure enuy, hostilitie, hate. 1580 E. Knight Triall of Truth f. 15^v This part of Scripture may iustly stirre a feare in vs. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 308 Each Tree Load'n with fairest Fruit,..stirr'd in me sudden appetite To pluck and eate. View more context for this quotation 1760 R. Lloyd Actor 195 A fault which stirs the critic's rage. 1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward III. iii. 77 If nothing occurs to stir the rage of this vindictive madman, I am sure of victory. 1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iv. 65 Blissful palpitations in the blood, Stirring a sudden transport rose and fell. 1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 5 Antipathy against Voltaire to a degree, that..must now and then have even stirred a kind of reacting sympathy. β. 1430–40 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1554) v. i. 114 Husbandes..had in maner a suspeccion Stiered by the serpent of false gelousye Toward Spurina.?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 6627 Þat sight sterid his deuocioun.1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid i. x. 7 Within hir banis grene The hote fyir of luif to kendle and steir.a1586 Sir P. Sidney Astrophel & Stella xxv Vertue..with vertuous care to ster Loue of herselfe, tooke Stella's shape.γ. 1558 W. Forrest Hist. Grisild the Second (1875) 72 Synne, sore of Kyngis, stoorthe Goddys malediction. †b. To instigate, set going, set on foot (strife, commotion, etc.). Obsolete: cf. Phrasal verbs e. ΘΚΠ society > authority > lack of subjection > rebelliousness > sedition > incite revolt or strife [verb (transitive)] stira1023 kindlea1400 enkindle1582 the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > stir up or rouse up > specifically a thing or condition stira1023 movea1382 energize1753 rouse1786 poke1851 α. a1023 Wulfstan Homilies xviii. 106 Saca and wraca he styrede gelome. c1175 Lamb. Hom. 113 He ne flit mid cheste ne he sake ne sturað. ?1521 J. Fisher Serm. agayn Luther sig. Aij In lyke maner..hathe rysen many a tyme some blacke clowde of heresy, & stered suche a tempest..that [etc.]. 1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. 325/2 The French king..stirred war in Normandy. c1610–15 tr. St. Ambrose Life St. Agnes in C. Horstmann Lives Women Saints (1886) 150 So that they stirre a greater tumult than euer the people had donne before. 1670 J. Dryden Tyrannick Love iii. i. 23 The Souldiers love her Brother's memory; And for her sake some Mutiny will stir. β. 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 284 So that thou miht the betre lere What mischief that this vice stereth.c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 17 Þat storen stryf and wraþ. c. To provoke or ‘needle’ (someone); to tease. See 14d. Australian colloquial. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > state of annoyance or vexation > be annoyed or vexed by [verb (transitive)] > annoy or vex > tease tease1627 rag1749 lugger1782 gammon1801 tig1805 fun1811 run1828 ride1891 rawhide1895 to bust (a person's) chops1953 stir1972 to pull a person's chain1975 1972 L. Irish Time of Dolphins iii. 33 She's damned well stirring you. 1974 in Buckley & Hamilton Festival 187 Stirring teachers was our favourite sport. 1978 B. St.A. Smith Spirit beyond Psyche 180 She..had often ‘stirred’ him about his pretty hair, but secretly she had been proud of him. 10. a. To bring into notice or debate; to move, raise, moot (a subject or question). Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > put forward [verb (transitive)] laya1387 proposea1398 stirc1400 move1452 propound?1531 broach1579 start1579 moot1685 to set up1697 argument1747 α. OE Beowulf 872 Secg eft ongan sið Beowulfes snyttrum styrian. 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 174 Many envious tale is stered, Wher that it mai noght ben ansuered. c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 55 To stirre doutablys questions, honestly to aske hem, and discretly answore hem. 1444 Rolls of Parl. V. 122/1 Yef ther be eny mater or maters stirred, desired or moeved bi the Baillifs. 1580 E. Spenser in E. Spenser & G. Harvey Three Proper & Wittie Lett. 5 Little newes is here stirred. 1612 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 43 Preserve the rights of thy place, but stir not questions of Iurisdiccion. a1676 M. Hale Hist. Common Law (1713) iii. 49 Many Cases..wherein the Question was not stirred. 1785 W. Paley Moral & Polit. Philos. (1818) II. vi. viii. 246 That..a doubt once decided may be stirred no more. 1831 W. Scott Castle Dangerous iv, in Tales of my Landlord 4th Ser. III. 284 ‘I shall not stir the question,’ said the minstrel. 1890 C. Martyn Wendell Phillips 202 To the petition he stirred,..the Committee returned a brutal denial. β. c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (1868) iii. pr. xii. 106 But na-þeles yif I stered resouns þat ne ben nat taken fro wiþ oute þe compas of þe þinge of whiche we treten.1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxlv Who that..moued or stered the matter firste vnto your Lordeship, counsailed you neither for your worship nor profite. †b. To bring forward as an example, to instance. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > an individual case or instance > find or furnish an instance or example of [verb (transitive)] > cite as an instance or example stir1340 cite1550 name1597 instance1622 quote1663 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 226 To loki þet stat of wodewehod one ssel sterie þe uorbisne of þe turle. II. Intransitive senses. (See also 3a (c).) †11. a. To move (continuously, or in general sense); to be in motion; spec. to move as a living being. (Cf. the reflexive sense 2) Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > move [verb (intransitive)] stira1000 icchec1175 wag?c1225 movea1325 routa1325 to-wawea1375 removea1400 sway?a1400 trotc1430 ayrec1440 quinch1511 walk1533 twitch1542 shift1595 jee1727 to get around1849 the world > movement > bodily movement > move the body or a member [verb (intransitive)] > move as a living being stira1000 wawc1275 movea1325 pass1340 α. a1000 Ælfric Genesis i. 26 Ealle þa creopende, þe stirað on eorðan. a1225 Leg. Kath. 361 Cleopest þeo þinges godes, þt nowðer sturien ne mahen ne steoren ham seoluen. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 309 Water þet ne stureð naut readliche stinkeð. c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 403 By forty dayez wern faren, on folde no flesch styryed. c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 98 Fyssh of þe water, þat gooþ on foure feet, & þat stirrys vpon wombe. 1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) sig. Ei He..that hath an ore stirringe in other mens boates. 1633 G. Herbert Assurance in Temple vi While rocks stand, And rivers stirre. β. c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame 567 And here with alle I gan to stere And he me in his fete to bere.c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 70 Thingis yat ar corporale jn this erde, steris nocht..with the moving of jt.1538 J. Bale Tragedye Promyses God ii. (facs.) B j b I wyll destroye..all that on earthe do stere.1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 87^v The winde so slender was To cause the ship to steare. †b. To move or pass from one place to another; to come or go. Obsolete.Some of the quots., esp. in β, may belong to steer v.¹ 4. ΘΚΠ society > travel > [verb (intransitive)] nimeOE becomec885 teec888 goeOE i-goc900 lithec900 wendeOE i-farec950 yongc950 to wend one's streetOE fare971 i-wende971 shakeOE winda1000 meteOE wendOE strikec1175 seekc1200 wevec1200 drawa1225 stira1225 glidea1275 kenc1275 movec1275 teemc1275 tightc1275 till1297 chevec1300 strake13.. travelc1300 choosec1320 to choose one's gatea1325 journeyc1330 reachc1330 repairc1330 wisec1330 cairc1340 covera1375 dressa1375 passa1375 tenda1375 puta1382 proceedc1392 doa1400 fanda1400 haunta1400 snya1400 take?a1400 thrilla1400 trace?a1400 trinea1400 fangc1400 to make (also have) resortc1425 to make one's repair (to)c1425 resort1429 ayrec1440 havea1450 speer?c1450 rokec1475 wina1500 hent1508 persevere?1521 pursuec1540 rechec1540 yede1563 bing1567 march1568 to go one's ways1581 groyl1582 yode1587 sally1590 track1590 way1596 frame1609 trickle1629 recur1654 wag1684 fadge1694 haul1802 hike1809 to get around1849 riddle1856 bat1867 biff1923 truck1925 α. a1225 Leg. Kath. 796 Ȝe alles to strif beoð isturet hidere. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3252 Qua him sagh moght vnderstand He stird was of a riche land. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 959 Iason..Busket to the bank and the bote tok, Stird ouer the streame streght to þe lond. 1581 Compendious Exam. Certayne Ordinary Complaints i. f. 8 We might sturre from on place to an other. β. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4959 Nour-quider mai we stere.c1450 Mirk's Festial 145 Þis man steryd ynto anoþyr howse.1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xii. viii. 12 Turnus..Persauyt thame thus sterand throw the plane.1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 12 Mony stout man steiris Of town with the King.γ. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid i. i. 65 Thair stewinnis stowrand fast throw the salt fame.a1568 Wyf Auchtermuchty ix, in Bannatyne MS. (Hunterian Club) 344 Than to the kyrn that he did stoure. 12. a. To pass from rest to motion, to begin to move; to make a slight movement, to move lightly (esp. to and fro); to make any movement, to move at all or in the least (chiefly with negative); to leave one's place, to budge; not to remain still; occasionally to show signs of life or consciousness (after sleep or a faint). ΘΚΠ the world > movement > move [verb (intransitive)] > begin to move or move slightly stirc950 budgea1592 mudge1790 α. c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xi. 7 Gerd vel puulsper from uinde styrende vel sceæcende. a1000 Ælfric Joshua x. 12 Ne stira þu sunne of þam stede. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2810 Min child tatt i min wambe liþ..bigann..To stirenn. & to buttenn. c1220 Bestiary 18 Stille lið ðe leun, ne stireð he nout of slepe Til [etc.]. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 8695 Beoð alle stille þat na man þer ne sturie. 1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xx. 102 Lered ne lewed he let no man stonde, That he hitte euene þat euere stired after. c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) iv. 12 Men may see þare þe erthe of þe toumbe..stirre and moue, as þer ware a qwikke thing under. 1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur i. xiv. 53 I wold that..they stere not tyll ye and your knyghtes haue foughte with hem longe. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 115^v The eares must bee shorte, standinge vpright, and stirring. 1603 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Hist. Descr. Worlde 120 Diuers..gentlemen..who neuer stirre from the side of the captaine Generall. 1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. i. 8 Bar. Haue you had quiet guard? Fran. Not a mouse stirring . View more context for this quotation a1607 H. Chettle Trag. Hoffman (1631) sig. H 2 Art sure she is a sleepe!.. She stirs not, shee is fast. a1607 H. Chettle Trag. Hoffman (1631) sig. H2^v She stirs, and when she wakes obserue me well. 1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 38 Whether they snore, or stir much in their sleepe. 1668 J. Dryden Sr Martin Mar-all iii. 30 [Lady has fainted away] Rose. Open her mouth with a Dagger... 2 Wom. She stirs, she revives, merciful to us all. 1705 C. Cibber Careless Husband iii. i. 35 Nay, you shan't stir a step. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 112. ¶5 No Body presumes to stir till Sir Roger is gone out of the Church. 1717 M. Prior Alma iii. 116 From every leaf that stirs, she flies. 1765 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. i. 125 Life..begins in contemplation of law as soon as an infant is able to stir in the mother's womb. 1829 R. Southey All for Love vii. 82 He stirr'd not from his station. 1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud xxi. iii, in Maud & Other Poems 68 All night has the casement jessamine stirr'd To the dancers dancing in tune. 1863 Mrs. H. Wood Verner's Pride II. xiv. 178 I was so took aback..that I couldn't neither stir nor speak. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay x. 158 She..stood for an instant..in silent, prayerful thought. Glynn waited till she stirred. β. c1220 Bestiary 404 Ne stereð ȝe noȝt of ðe stede.a1400 Minor Poems from Vernon MS 604 Þer water is most deope, Þe lesse þer þen steres he.c1430 Chev. Assigne 147 They stoden alle stylle for stere þey ne durste.1567 A. Golding tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) v. f. 57^v Downe he fell and could not after steare.1616 J. Lane Contin. Squire's Tale vii. 480 While tonges well much maie talke, but no hand steare.1794 Har'st Rig xiv. 8 They vow they'll never steer Sae lang's he has a cut to shear, But bide wi' him till fields are clear.γ. 14.. Guy Warw. 3869 Loke, ye store not of þat stedde.c1420 Chron. Vilod. 3108 Þe clothe þat honged vpone hurre tombe þere þo Meue ofte & store wondere fast.c1450 Erle of Tolous 755 He durst not store, nor make no mone, To make the lady afryght. b. To go out (from a house or place of abode); usually with †abroad, †forth, out: almost always with negative. Rarely of inanimate things. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > go or come out [verb (intransitive)] > from one's house or place stir?a1500 to come abroad?1516 sally1590 α. 1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 86^v The Frog saith Aristotle liueth quietly all the time of cold weather, and neuer stirreth abrode. a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) ii. ii. 38 Cæs. What say the Augurers? Ser. They would not haue you to stirre forth to day. View more context for this quotation 1644 J. Milton Areopagitica 23 Unoffensive books must not stirre forth without a visible jaylor in thir title. 1713 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 4 Apr. (1948) II. 653 I came home at 7, and have never stirrd out. 1743 J. Bulkeley & J. Cummins Voy. to South-seas 217 [We] were told by the Captain, we must not stir out of the Ship. 1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward II. ii. 42 He dare not stir far from his own Forest of Ardennes. 1827 E. B. Pusey in H. P. Liddon et al. Life E. B. Pusey (1893) I. vi. 118 These [MSS.] never stir out of the walls of the Bodleian. 1832 H. Martineau Life in Wilds iii. 33 They could not stir till they had provision for their journey. γ. ?a1500 Chester Pl., Purif. 91 Yet storred I not out of this place. †c. Of a voice: To sound. (Cf. 1d) Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > to sound (of voice or utterance) [verb (intransitive)] stirc1275 c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 14055 Þa umbe stunde stefne þer sturede [c1300 Otho storede]. d. Of a colour: To move, be affected. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > colour > change of colour > change colour [verb (intransitive)] turn1568 chameleonize1599 to turn (one's) colour1604 discolour1612 colour1667 stir1792 1792 Trans. Soc. Arts 10 199 This manufacture improves every time it is washed; and the colours never stir by washing. e. To show signs of growth; to bud. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > by growth or development > grow or vegetate [verb (intransitive)] > sprout or put forth new growth spriteOE wrideOE brodc1175 comea1225 spirec1325 chicka1400 sprouta1400 germin?1440 germ1483 chip?a1500 spurgea1500 to put forth1530 shootc1560 spear1570 stock1574 chit1601 breward1609 pullulate1618 ysproutc1620 egerminate1623 put1623 germinate1626 sprent1647 fruticate1657 stalk1666 tiller1677 breerc1700 fork1707 to put out1731 stool1770 sucker1802 stir1843 push1855 braird1865 fibre1869 flush1877 1843 Penny Cycl. XXVII. 457/1 A northern aspect is thought best, as the vines do not stir so soon in spring. f. figurative. To begin to show signs of ‘life’ or activity (as an intellectual movement or the like). ΚΠ 1873 [implied in: J. A. Symonds Stud. Greek Poets v. 111 The very earliest stirrings of conscious art in Greece. (at stirring n. 2d)]. 1909 [implied in: Edinb. Rev. July 154 The stirrings of an independent life in the..peoples. (at stirring n. 2d)]. 13. a. To move about in a place, to ‘be about’; chiefly in present participle (often spec. = out of bed, up and about). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > doing > act or do [verb (intransitive)] > as opposed to talking or inaction > be in action or stirring about stirc1275 α. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 11855 Þa hit dæi wes amarȝen duȝeðe gunne sturien [c1300 Otho gan to storie]. c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iii. 692 But boden go to bedde with myschaunce, If ony wight was sterynge ony where. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxi. 213 They coude se no man sterynge within the castell. 1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida i. ii. 49 Cres. Hector was gone but Hellen was not vp? Pan. E'ene so, Hector was stirring early. View more context for this quotation 1619 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1618–21 (1906) 99 If any stronge drinke be stirringe. 1702 R. Steele Funeral ii. 17 How often must I tell you my Lord is not stirring: His Lordship has not Slept well. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. v. 176 Had any ships been stirring in these seas..we must have met with them. 1825 W. Scott Betrothed xiii, in Tales Crusaders I. 234 Notwithstanding there are now no Welch knaves stirring, yet the marches are never free from robbers. 1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xviii. 177 When no one in the house was stirring, and the lights were all extinguished. 1884 W. E. Henley & R. L. Stevenson Admiral Guinea (1892) iv. i. 244 Arethusa (listening). St! my father stirring in his room! γ. c1275 [see sense 1bα. ]. 1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde ii. ii. f. 60^v When he had contynued a whyle in the hauen, and sawe noo man stourynge. b. transferred. To be in circulation, be current; chiefly in present participle. Now somewhat rare: chiefly of news (cf. 1c). ΘΚΠ society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publish or spread abroad [verb (intransitive)] > spread or be current springOE spreadc1300 to go abouta1325 quicka1400 risea1400 runa1400 walkc1400 stir1423 voice1429 fly1480 to go abroad1513 to come abroad1525 wandera1547 divulge1604 to get abroad1615 to take aira1616 to make (also do) the rounds1669 to get about1740 reach1970 1423 Rolls of Parl. IV. 257/2 Be ther never so muche white moneye forged, that shall be but litell the more sturryngge among the poeple. 1608 Bp. J. Hall Characters Vertues & Vices ii. 79 No newes can stir but by his doore. 1634 W. Tirwhyt tr. J. L. G. de Balzac Lett. 187 To let you know what newes is stirring. 1691 A. Wood Life & Times (1894) III. 370 [The] University very empty and dead: and money but little stirring. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 10. ¶5 Asking..whether there was any News stirring? c1850 Arabian Nights (Rtldg.) 646 He asked the host if there were any news stirring. c. To go on, happen, take place; chiefly in present participle = going on, ‘on foot’. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > doing > a proceeding > proceed or carry on an action [verb (intransitive)] > be carried on or proceed wharvec888 passa1393 proceed?a1439 stir1526 progress1600 to go on1735 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Kiiii Euery thyng that stereth by hym, or that he seth or hereth he iudgeth to be a reuelacion. 1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. i. 88 No ill lucke stirring but what lights a my shoulders. View more context for this quotation 1684 T. Otway Atheist i. 6 What Sins are stirring in this Noble Metropolis. 1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 141 There's no Trade stirs now. 1882 C. Pebody Eng. Journalism xx. 152 Telegrams from every part of the world where there is anything stirring that is of the slightest interest to Englishmen. 14. a. To move briskly or energetically; to be on the move, be active, ‘look alive’, bestir oneself. Cf. the reflexive use 6. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > act or do vigorously [verb (intransitive)] > be brisk or active wakec897 stir?c1225 whippet1540 to let the grass grow under one's feet (also heels)a1556 jetty1570 hum1884 α. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 121 For þi mine leoue sustren bi nicht ase nicht fuwel þet ancre is to iefned. beoð ȝeorne sturinde. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 4656 He..sturede [c1300 Otho storede] i þon compe al-se hit þe king weore. 1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 30 Make maide to be clenly,..& teach her to stirre when her mistresse doth speake. 1602 T. Dekker Blurt Master-Constable sig. C2^v Triuia, Simperina, stir stir, stir, one of you open the Case-ments. 1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles v. 57 Looke how thou stirr'st now. View more context for this quotation 1830 T. P. Thompson in Westm. Rev. July 254 Every free man in the civilized world is put on his defence, and called upon to be stirring for the preservation of all that he may wish to keep. 1841 W. M. Thackeray Great Hoggarty Diamond xii Her husband stirred and bustled about until the requisite leave was obtained. 1849 W. S. Mayo Kaloolah (1850) vi. 57 Let's stir round and do something. 1884 W. C. Smith Kildrostan 34 Ina, your heart is low, as one will be Who sits down in a mist instead of stirring To keep the blood warm. β. c1400 Gamelyn (Corpus MS.) 519 Stere [v.rr. Bi-, Bystere] good adam and late þer none flee.c1400 Ragman Roll 134 in Hazlitt Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) I. 75 Joly and lyght is your complexicion, That steryn ay, and kunne nat stonde still.c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn Prol. l. 548 So she sterith aboute this house in a wood rese.1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) v. l. 838 The hardy Scottis so steryt in that sted.1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. biiii^v Wondir sternly thai steir on thair stent stedis.a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 55 So in our commynalty certayn partys therbe, wych ever be movyng & sterryng.γ. c1275 Laȝamon Brut 9334 He..storede in þan fihte. b. figurative. To be active or occupied about something; to move or bestir oneself in a matter, to begin to act. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin action or activity [verb (intransitive)] > bestir oneself arisec825 to start upc1275 stirc1275 shifta1400 awakea1450 to put out one's fins?1461 wake1523 to shake one's ears1580 rouse1589 bestira1616 awaken1768 arouse1822 waken1825 to wake snakes1835 roust1841 to flax round1884 to get busy1896 to get one's arse in gear1948 α. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 9404 On hir he scal streonen þat scal wide sturien [c1300 Otho sturie]. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 4047 Now wete yche..þat stares vpon stories, & stirs in bokys, Þat [etc.]. 1618 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1618–21 (1906) 19 If it bee prooved Mogolls goods, and that the King stirr in yt, I know this people. 1620 Horæ Subseciuæ 304 A mans nature is to stirre more for the recouery of a good, which they once enioyed, then for the acquisition of what they are ignorant of. a1642 R. Callis Reading of Statute of Sewers (1647) iii. 152 Surely this point hath heretofore been much stirred in, and not without some cause. 1653 W. Ramesey Astrologia Restaurata 183 Neither is it safe for those Rebels to stirr when she [i.e. the Moon] is weak. 1709 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1886) II. 175 The writer..was..advis'd..to stir for it. c1721 Marquis of Tullibardine Let. in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Earl of Eglinton (1885) 126 in Parl. Papers 1884–5 (C. 4575) XLIV. 1 I pray the capacity of those who are most able to stir about your Majesty's concerns, be well employed in [etc.]. 1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor ii, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. II. 24 The improbability of the young Master of Ravenswood finding friends in parliament, capable of stirring in so weighty an affair. 1871 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) IV. xviii. 144 While Exeter was in arms, York did not stir, and when York did stir, Exeter had no longer the power of stirring. β. a1505 R. Henryson Test. Cresseid 469 in Poems (1981) 126 Fortoun is fikkill quhen scho beginnis and steiris.a1560 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Nyne Fyrst Bks. Eneidos (1562) ix. sig. Ddij^v Gods, gods, o countrey gods, in whose protection Troy still steeres.1647 in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. Ep. Ded. But directed by the example of some, who once steered in our qualitie..we have presumed to offer to your Selfe, what before was never printed of these Authours.1891 ‘H. Haliburton’ Ochil Idylls 40 At fifty, wi' a conscience clear, The man that sits, as I do here, Haund-haill, an' neither slow to steer Nor quick to tire. c. To make a disturbance, commotion, or tumult; to rise in revolt or insurrection. Now rare and merely contextual. ΘΚΠ society > authority > lack of subjection > rebelliousness > insurrection > rise in revolt [verb (intransitive)] arisec825 onriseOE rise?a1160 stirc1275 inrisea1300 upstanda1300 again-risea1382 rebela1382 raisea1400 insurge1532 to fall offa1535 revolt1548 to rise in arms1563 tumult1570 tumultuatea1734 insurrect1821 insurrectionize1841 to break into rebellion1876 c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 5345 In Lundene stureden þa leoden. 1399 W. Langland Richard Redeles iii. 269 To strie strouters þat sterede aȝeine rithis. a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) iii. l. 22 Þe kynge of Moab than, Eglon, Had vndyr hym in subieccion Þe folk of Israel fourteyn ȝhere, Qwhil Ayot begouthe to steyr. 1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) iv. iv. sig. r ^v Good werkes that be done for y^e loue of god stere put and knocke at the yate of mercy dyuyne. a1550 Lynn Chron. in Six Town Chron. (1911) 185 In this yere the Skots begane to store and the deweke of glossytr was sent to them but he retorned w^th out battell. 1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Piv^v/1 To Sturre, neutre, tumultuare. 1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. 71 The King..was quiet and peaceable, and stirred not against him. 1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn II. li. 175 ‘Is not your nation seditious and turbulent?’ ‘It is not,’ answered Ishmael. ‘We never stir unless we are wronged.’ d. To cause trouble, to provoke authority; to make a nuisance of oneself. See 9c and stirrer n. 1d. colloquial (chiefly Australian). ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > state of annoyance or vexation > be annoyed or vexed [verb (intransitive)] > cause annoyance or vexation to work (also do) annoyc1300 noya1387 to do noisance1437 molest1580 bothera1774 annoy1848 needle1874 stir1972 1972 J. de Hoog Skid Row Dossier 110 Several youths went ‘stirring’ one day—riding up and down the lifts of large office blocks. 1980 E. R. Hall Can you hear Me? 128 There were radio members who would ‘stir’ mainly in an effort to get the ‘System’ to work for the individual. 1984 ‘K. Royce’ Crypto Man x. 153 ‘It will get straight back to Clarke.’ ‘Maybe that won't be a bad thing. All we can do is stir.’ 15. To be roused or excited, as feeling, passion, etc. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > excitement > be or become excited [verb (intransitive)] stira1000 resea1250 to move one's blood (also mood)c1330 fluster1613 fever1632 foment1646 ferment1671 animate1779 self-excite1832 effervesce1850 to turn on1966 a1000 Boeth. Metr. xxii. 64 Mid þæm bisgum þe on breostum styreð. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5052 Ioseph beheild þan beniamin, Him stird al his blod wit-in. 1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos ii. sig. D.iv^v Sometime when tyryd ben their harts their manful stomacks steres [L. victis redit in præcordia virtus] And down their conquerours they quell. 1575 T. Churchyard 1st Pt. Chippes f. 2 ^v Our rage was great..Our stomackes storde, as we did this beholde. 1577–82 N. Breton Toys of Idle Head (Grosart) 39/1 And then doo what I can, alas, my Heart beginnes to sturre. 1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 i. iii. 195 The bloud more stirs To rouse a lyon than to start a hare. View more context for this quotation 1705 C. Cibber Careless Husband i. i. 10 My Blood stirs at the very thought on't. 1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge lxxxi. 411 His wrath so stirred within him, that he could have struck him dead. 1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess v. 107 I..felt the blind wildbeast of force..Stir in me as to strike. Phrasal verbs to stir up a. transitive. To set in motion, agitate; to push or poke so as to displace, disturb, or mix the parts of: cf. senses 1, 3 to stir up with a long pole (humorous, with allusion to a wild-beast showman ‘stirring up’ his beasts): to rouse from rest or inaction, to provoke to activity: cf. sense 1d, also 5, 7. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > agitate [verb (transitive)] > stir stira1023 to stir up1340 rowa1400 rore1440 rout?1440 rummage1591 rumble1724 the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] > by kneading, stirring, etc. > by stirring stirc1000 to stir up1340 stira1475 card1591 coil1674 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 487 Stiue stormus of þe wind stiren vp þe wawus. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Deut. xxxii. 11 As an Aegle stereth vp hir nest, and flotereth ouer hir yonge. 1679 Trials of Green etc. for Murder of Sir E. Godfrey 39 I was in the Parlor and stirred up the fire. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 684 Stir up and dress the soil of flowers and shrubs in pots. 1823 ‘J. Bee’ Slang 166 ‘Stir 'em up with a long pole, as the fellow does with the beestes,’ alludes to the bellowings of these latter. 1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. xviii. 471 It is best..to effect the mixture..by stirring up the mass lightly with a pointed stick or a fork. 1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days ii. ii. 260 Stir him up with the long pole, Jack, and hear him swear like a drunken sailor. 1912 C. Johnston Why World Laughs 2 Whenever the dance showed signs of flagging, the policeman stirred them up with a long pole. †b. To rouse from sleep or rest, to wake up. (Cf. 5) Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > state of being awake > wake or rouse [verb (transitive)] wecchec897 aweccheeOE wakenc1175 awake?c1225 upwakea1325 wakec1369 ruthec1400 daw1470 awaken1513 to stir up1526 dawn1530 to call up1548 unsleep1555 rouse1563 abraid1590 amove1591 arousea1616 dissleep1616 expergefy1623 start?1624 to rouse out1825 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Acts xii. 7 He smote Peter on the syde and steryd him uppe. 1533 T. More Answere Poysened Bk. iii. i. f. clv He that eateth my flesshe and drynketh my bloude, hath lyfe euerlastynge, and I shall stere hym vp in the laste daye. 1611 Bible (King James) Song of Sol. viii. 4 I charge you..that ye stirre not vp, nor awake my loue vntill he please. View more context for this quotation 1683 W. Salmon Doron Medicum i. 146 [It] gently awakes, or stirrs them up. †c. To ‘raise up’, call into being. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > [verb (transitive)] > elicit or call forth movea1398 drawa1400 provoke?a1425 askc1450 to draw out1525 to stir up1526 allure?1532 suscitate1532 to call out1539 to draw fortha1569 draw1581 attract1593 raise1598 force1602 fetch1622 milka1628 invite1650 summon1679 elicit1822 to work up?1833 educe1840 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Rom. ix. 17 Even for thys same purpose haue I stered the uppe [Gk. ἐξήγειρά σε], to shewe my power on the. 1532 T. More Confut. Tyndales Answere iii. p. cclxxxiiii We saye also that god hath dayly stered vp & dayly doth sterre vp new prophetes in sundry partes of hys catholyke chyrche. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Deut. xxv. 7 My kynsman refuseth to stere vp [L. suscitare: Luther erwecken] a name vnto his brother in Israel and wyl not marye me. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. clxxxxviii^v The dispensacion by the lawe of Deuteronomi of styrryng vp the brothers sede. 1561 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates in Wks. (1888) I. 52 An wngodly and wickit peple sterit vp to be Godis scurge. 1564 tr. P. M. Vermigli Most Fruitfull & Learned Comm. 200 b When God decreed to sende any notable and excellent man, he verye often tymes styrred hym vp out of a barren woman. d. To rouse to action, activity, or emotion; to rouse from indifference or sloth; to incite, instigate, stimulate: cf. sense 7. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > stir up or rouse up stirc1000 aweccheOE stirc1175 arear?c1225 awakec1315 amovec1330 araisec1374 wake1398 wakenc1400 to stir upa1500 incend?1504 to firk upc1540 bestir1549 store1552 bustlea1555 tickle1567 solicitate1568 to stir one's taila1572 exsuscitate1574 rouse1574 suscitate1598 accite1600 actuate1603 arousea1616 poach1632 roust1658 to shake up1850 to galvanize to or into life1853 to make things (or something specified) hum1884 to jack up1914 rev1945 α. ?1542 H. Brinkelow Complaynt Roderyck Mors iii. sig. B5 God shal sturre vp the hartys euyn of his own fryndes agaynst him. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. iv. sig. Q3^v His am I Atin, his in wrong and right, That..Stirre him vp to strife and cruell fight. a1591 H. Smith Serm. (1594) 529 That all the world may take heede how they stirre vp the Lyon of Iudah. a1644 F. Quarles Solomons Recantation (1645) xii. 59 The wise mans words are like to Goads, that doe Stir up the drowzy, and spur up the slow. 1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 403 At which time..they stirred him up to recover the Right and Title of Oneal. 1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1251 He will..with malitious counsel stir them up..yet further to afflict thee. View more context for this quotation a1720 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. ii. 129 The constable stirred up the rude people, and cried, Kill him [Cf. Acts vi. 12 etc.]. 1838 J. L. Stephens Incidents Trav. Greece, Turkey, Russia 107/1 The French..were always suspected of being political emissaries to stir up the Poles to revolution. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay v. 81 I shall write to my lawyers to stir up our detectives. 1890 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 4 Aug. 1/8 The Pennsylvania Road has stirred up a hornet's nest. 1894 R. Bridges Feast of Bacchus i. 44 Stirring up your servants. β. a1500 Anc. Sc. Prophecy in Bernardus de Cura Rei Famuliaris 33 Þe stepsonys of þe lyonne steryt vp at ones, Þe leoperde sall þame stryke doune.1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Di We ought the more to..stere vp our hertes to deuocion.1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Celebr. Holye Communion f. xcvii Stiere vp we beseche thee, O Lord, the wylles of thy faythfull people.1571 G. Buchanan Admonitioun Trew Lordis sig. A.3 Nouther honour nor commoun welth steirit zow vp then.1641 Sc. Acts Chas. I (1817) V. 579/2 To give ordour to the seuerall ministeris..to steir vp the peopill of thair particular parosches..to extend þ^r liberalitie þ^rto.γ. 1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde ii. ii. f. 59^v Vaschus Nunnez..stoured vp certeyne lyght felowes ageynst Ancisus. e. To excite, provoke, induce; to raise, set on foot (strife, disturbance, etc.); to arouse (feeling or emotion): cf. sense 9. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > [verb (transitive)] > give rise to makeOE breedc1200 wakea1325 wakenc1330 engendera1393 gendera1398 raisea1400 begetc1443 reara1513 ingener1513 ingenerate1528 to stir upc1530 yield1576 to pull ona1586 to brood up1586 to set afloat (on float)1586 spawn1594 innate1602 initiate1604 inbreed1605 irritate1612 to give rise to1630 to let in1655 to gig (out)1659 to set up1851 gin1887 the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > quality of affecting the emotions > affect with emotion [verb (transitive)] > cause or give rise to an emotion rearOE arear?c1225 annoyc1300 movea1325 excite1393 raisea1400 lighta1413 stirc1430 provokec1450 provocate?a1475 rendera1522 to stir upc1530 excitate?1549 inspire1576 yield1576 to turn up1579 rouse1589 urge1594 incense1598 upraisea1600 upreara1600 irritate1612 awakena1616 recreate1643 pique1697 arouse1730 unlull1743 energize1753 evocate1827 evoke1856 vibe1977 the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate > bring about by incitement stirc897 forthclepe?c1000 raisec1175 entice1297 rearc1325 excitea1340 arta1450 provocate?a1475 suscitate1528 to stir upc1530 provoke1535 store1552 concitea1555 upsteer1558 spirit1598 solicit1602 foment1606 fana1616 proritate1620 incite1627 ferment1660 spirita1680 brush1755 whip1805 to put (also set) (the) spurs to1819 fillipa1822 instigate1852 spark-plug1945 whomp1961 α. 1538 T. Elyot Dict. Irrito, to prouoke, to kendyl wrathe, to styrre vppe. 1544 P. Betham tr. J. di Porcia Preceptes Warre i. iii. sig. B iv It is a lyght thyng to styre vp battayl, but to leaue of with glorye..is an harde thyng. 1546 S. Gardiner Detection Deuils Sophistrie 16 Y^e deuyll..sturreth vp this abhominable heresy. 1622 L. Digges tr. G. de Céspedes y Meneses Gerardo 2 The sad spectacle stirred vp the poore mens compassion. 1637 J. Milton Comus 7 Merriment, Such as the jocond Flute..Stirs up among the loose unleter'd Hinds. 1683 W. Lloyd in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) (Camden) 187 Such songs as are most apt to stir up devotion. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 163. ¶6 Authors that are apt to stir up Mirth in the Mind of the Readers. 1820 W. Scott Monastery I. vi. 198 Whet the temporal sword if it be necessary, and stir up the courage and zeal of your loyal vassals. 1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiv. 464 He did not conceive that he was bound to be always stirring up sedition against them. 1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn I. vii. 51 Unless they stir up a riot at Rome I shall not trouble the Emperor by mentioning them. β. c1530 Spirituall Counsayle G j That I myghte stere up in me a fresche remembraunce of thy moste blyssed deathe.1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. Rom. xvi. f. xliiii^v The misterie, whiche..nowe is opened..to stere vp obedience to the fayth published among all nacions.1567 T. Drant tr. Horace Pistles in tr. Horace Arte of Poetrie sig. Gvij That poet on a stretched rope May walke and neuer fall, That can stere vp my passions, Or quicke my sprytes at all.γ. a1555 J. Philpot tr. C. S. Curione Def. Authority Christ's Church in R. Eden Exam. & Writings J. Philpot (1842) (modernized text) 380 The Jews..for the ceremonies of their country and rites eftsoons stored up great controversies. Compounds With noun in object relation. † stir-passion n. Obsolete something that stirs or excites passion.Apparently an isolated use. ΚΠ 1604 T. Wright Passions of Minde (new ed.) v. 185 It were requisite for an excellent stir-passion to have in a readinesse all those places. † stir-strife adj. Obsolete that stirs or excites strife.Apparently an isolated use. ΚΠ 1589 W. Warner Albions Eng. (new ed.) v. xxiii. 104 That heard the Pope, canonizing the stir-strife Priest a Saint. Draft additions June 2004 coarse slang (chiefly British, Australian and New Zealand). [Compare French foutre la merde (1978 or earlier) to make a mess, to mess things up.] to stir (up) shit and variants: to cause trouble for its own sake. Cf. sense Phrasal verbs e. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > misuse > [verb (intransitive)] > take advantage of trouble to fish in troubled waters1569 to stir shit1971 1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. vi. sig. Iii The more we stur a tourde, the wours it will stynke.] 1971 New Lit. Hist. 3 45 It consists of setting fire to the powder, of activating the flames... The reading-writing process consists of stirring up shit. 1978 New Mus. Express 25 Nov. 11/3 I keep being told I mustn't criticise anyone or stir up any shit. 1981 Avondale (Auckland) Slang Words (Goldie Brown Coll.) Feb. To stir shit, to make trouble. 1988 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 22 Apr. 1 All the..crew who have been stirring shit, he has dropped them right in it. 1998 Y.-M. Ooi Flame Tree (1999) xxix. 402 You had the chance to bow out gracefully. To go back to London with your sweet arse and career intact. But you had to stir the shit. Draft additions March 2021 colloquial. to stir the pot: to cause trouble, esp. to provoke others vicariously; to incite conflict or controversy. Also in later use: to challenge the status quo. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > be in dissension or at variance [verb (intransitive)] > cause dissension to make strife1303 to make the feathers flyc1430 to stir the coals1539 to make mischiefc1572 to blow the bellows1590 to blow the fire1670 to stir the pot1826 to stir (also rouse) the possum1900 to mix it1950 1826 Caledonian Mercury 3 June As you have stirred the pot, let us see what will come next. 1968 Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) 18 Jan. 7/1 The Russians..just want to stir the pot to exploit inter-Arab and Arab–Israeli conflicts. 2013 S. Johnson Elysian Fields xv. 126 I was so afraid of screwing it up..that changing the status quo terrified me. As long as we'd been cosentinels, Alex wasn't willing to stir the pot, either. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.¹c1480n.²a1796n.³1851v.c888
随便看	to the recover to the rescue to the respect of to the rest to the right to the right about to the rights to the rightward to the rightward of to the rightwards to the rightwards of to the riverward to the root to the roots to the safeguard of to the same to the same purpose to the satisfaction of to the scout to the sea to the seaward to the seaward of to the seawards to the second order to the semblance of; to have or take the semblance of; in semblance of

stirn.1

† stirn.2

stirn.3

Compounds

stirv.

Phrasal verbs

Compounds

Draft additions June 2004

Draft additions March 2021

stirn.¹

† stirn.²

stirn.³