| steep | To soak in a liquid; to macerate; to extract the essence of by soaking; as, to soften seed by steeping it in water. Often used figuratively. "Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep." (Shak) "In refreshing dew to steep The little, trembling flowers." (Wordsworth) "The learned of the nation were steeped in Latin." (Earle) Origin: OE. Stepen, probably fr. Icel. Steypa to cause to stoop, cast down, pour out, to cast metals, causative of stupa to stoop; cf. Sw. Stopa to cast, to steep, Dan. Stobe, D. & G. Stippen to steep, to dip. Cf. Stoop. 1. Something steeped, or used in steeping; a fertilizing liquid to hasten the germination of seeds. 2. A rennet bag. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| steeple | 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." Rood steeple. See Rood tower, under Rood. <botany> Steeple bush, a low shrub (Spiraea tomentosa) having dense panicles of minute rose-coloured 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. Origin: OE. Stepel, AS. Stepel, stpel; akin to E. Steep, a. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |