steely

steely

See also: Steely

English

Etymology

From steel +‎ -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈstiːli/
• Homophone: stele
• Rhymes: -iːli

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

steely (comparative steelier, superlative steeliest)

1. Having qualities resembling those of steel, especially hard and resolute.

   The bully backed down before his steely gaze.

   steely grey hair

   • a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the page number)”, in Fulke Greville, Matthew Gwinne, and John Florio, editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, OCLC 801077108; republished in Albert Feuillerat, editor, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (Cambridge English Classics: The Complete Works of Sir Philip Sidney; I), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1912, OCLC 318419127:

     She would unarm her noble heart of that steely resistance against the sweet blows of love.

   • 2017 June 11, Ben Fisher, “England seal Under-20 World Cup glory as Dominic Calvert-Lewin strikes”, in the Guardian‎:

     Freddie Woodman was ultimately the hero after making a superb 74th-minute penalty save to deny Adalberto Peñaranda. Woodman, the son of former Northampton Town goalkeeper Andy and godson of Southgate, made a steely left-handed save from the spot-kick after Dominic Calvert-Lewin had given England a first-half lead.

2. Made of steel.

   Synonym: steelen

   • c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act II, scene iii]:

     Broach'd with the steely point of Clifford's lance.

   • [1716], [John] Gay, “(please specify the page number(s))”, in Trivia: Or, The Art of Walking the Streets of London, London: Printed for Bernard Lintott, […], OCLC 13598122:

     Around his shop the steely sparkles flew.

   • 1977, Don Henley and Glenn Frey (lyrics), Don Felder and Joe Walsh (music), “Hotel California”, in Hotel California:

     And in the master's chambers / They gathered for the feast / They stab it with their steely knives / But they just can't kill the beast

Derived terms

• steelily
• steeliness
• steely-eyed
• steely-nerved
• steely-spined

Translations

Translations

Bulgarian: стоманен (stomanen), приличащ на стомана (priličašt na stomana) Dutch: staalachtig (nl), stalen (nl) French: d'acier (fr) m Hungarian: acélos (hu) Polish: stalowy (pl) Russian: стально́й (ru) (stalʹnój) Spanish: acerado (es) Ukrainian: стале́вий (stalévyj)

Anagrams

• sleety, stylee