steadfast
adjective
Ellen Glasgow
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Steadfast has held its ground for many centuries. Its Old English predecessor, stedefæst, combines stede, meaning "place," and fæst, meaning "fixed." Steadfast was first used in battle contexts to describe warriors who literally stood their ground, which led to its "immovable" sense, as when Sinclair Lewis wrote of "a castle, steadfast among storms." (The word was also once used to describe steady hands, as well as substances that keep their solid, firm state.) These senses were soon joined by one applied to people's character, implying unswerving faith, loyalty, or devotion; arriving in the 12th century, this meaning has remained steady in the English language ever since.
Synonyms
Examples of steadfast in a Sentence
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
The trilogy was directed by Zemeckis and written by Bob Gale, and both have been steadfast in their disavowal of further Back to the Future projects.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 4 Nov. 2024
All the while, the Constitution's safeguards remain steadfast.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Lo knows to play a long game, and plans to remain steadfast while waiting for the turmoil to subside.
—Zinnia Lee, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near steadfast
Cite this Entry
“Steadfast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steadfast. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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steadfast
adjective
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