Steep-down to Stem
Steep-down
(Steep"-down`) a. Deep and precipitous, having steep descent. [R.]
Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire.
Shak. Steepen
(Steep"en) v. i. [imp. & p. p. Steepened ; p. pr. & vb. n. Steepening.] To become steep
or steeper.
As the way steepened . . . I could detect in the hollow of the hill some traces of the old path.
H. Miller. Steeper
(Steep"er) n. A vessel, vat, or cistern, in which things are steeped.
Steepiness
(Steep"i*ness) n. Steepness. Howell.
Steepish
(Steep"ish), a. Somewhat steep. Carlyle.
Steeple
(Stee"ple) n. [OE. stepel, AS. stepel, stpel; akin to E. steep, a.] (Arch.) A spire; also, the
tower and spire taken together; the whole of a structure if the roof is of spire form. See Spire. "A weathercock
on a steeple." Shak.
Rood steeple. See Rood tower, under Rood. — Steeple bush (Bot.), a low shrub (Spiræa tomentosa)
having dense panicles of minute rose-colored flowers; hardhack. — Steeple chase, a race across country
between a number of horsemen, to see which can first reach some distant object, as a church steeple; hence,
a race over a prescribed course obstructed by such obstacles as one meets in riding across country, as
hedges, walls, etc. — Steeple chaser, one who rides in a steeple chase; also, a horse trained to run in
a steeple chase. — Steeple engine, a vertical back- acting steam engine having the cylinder beneath
the crosshead. — Steeple house, a church. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
Steeplechasing
(Stee"ple*chas`ing) n. The act of riding steeple chases.
Steeple-crowned
(Stee"ple-crowned`) a.
1. Bearing a steeple; as, a steeple- crowned building.
2. Having a crown shaped like a steeple; as, a steeple-crowned hat; also, wearing a hat with such a
crown.
This grave, beared, sable-cloaked, and steeple- crowned progenitor.
Hawthorne. Steepled
(Stee"pled) a. Furnished with, or having the form of, a steeple; adorned with steeples. Fairfax.
Steeply
(Steep"ly) adv. In a steep manner; with steepness; with precipitous declivity.
Steepness
(Steep"ness), n.
1. Quality or state of being steep; precipitous declivity; as, the steepnessof a hill or a roof.
2. Height; loftiness. [Obs.] Chapman.
Steep-up
(Steep"-up`) a. Lofty and precipitous. [R.]
Her stand she takes upon a steep-up hill.
Shak. Steepy
(Steep"y) a. Steep; precipitous. [Poetic]
No more, my goats, shall I belong you climb
The steepy cliffs, or crop the flow'ry thyme.
Dryden.
