Steadfast

• 1. Fixed or secure in position. a. Of a person, esp. a soldier in battle: Maintaining his ground. (Now with mixture of sense 2.) Also, of a battle: Fought without change of position.

b. Fixed in abode. Obs. rare.

c. Of a thing, e.g. a pillar, a foundation: Firmly fixed, not to be moved or displaced. Also in fig. context. Obs. exc. in rhetorical language (of the earth, etc.).

d. Of the hands: Steady, not tremulous. Also of shooting: Steady. Obs.

e. Of a pain: Not changing its position. Obs.

f. Solid; firm in substance. Obs.

g. Unshaken in health. Obs.

h. steadfast land: the mainland, as opposed to an island. Obs. [Cf. G. festland.]

• 2. Of persons: Unshaken, immoveable in faith, resolution, friendship, etc. Also said of belief, purpose or affection. Occas. const. to.

b. Applied to God: Unchanging. Obs.

c. In bad sense: Confirmed, incorrigible. Obs.

• 3. Of a law, a treaty, an institution, a condition of things: Firmly settled, established, unchangeable.

b. Of a language: Settled. Obs.

• 4. Of sight, the eye (occas. of the mind): Steadily directed.