steadfast

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled stedfast

US /ˈstɛdfæst/ UK /ˈstɛdfɑːst/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
firmly fixed in purpose or loyalty; unwavering

He remained steadfast in his beliefs despite fierce opposition.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · firmly fixed in purpose or... resolute unwavering staunch firm constant steady unflinching dedicated

Opposites

wavering irresolute fickle inconstantvacillating

Word family

Derived forms steadfastly steadfastness

Related forms stead fast steady

Etymology

From Old English 'stedefæst', firm in its place, a compound of 'stede' (place) and 'fæst' (fixed, firm).

stedefæst Old English fæst Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# steadfast

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈstɛdfæst/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈstɛdfɑːst/

## Meanings
1. firmly fixed in purpose or loyalty; unwavering

## Examples
- He remained steadfast in his beliefs despite fierce opposition.

## Synonyms
- resolute
- unwavering
- staunch
- firm
- constant
- steady
- unflinching
- dedicated

## Antonyms
- wavering
- irresolute
- fickle
- inconstant
- vacillating

## Derived Forms
- steadfastly
- steadfastness

## Related Forms
- stead
- fast
- steady

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: stedefæst
- Root: fæst

## Etymology
From Old English 'stedefæst', firm in its place, a compound of 'stede' (place) and 'fæst' (fixed, firm).

## AI Etymology
Steadfast comes from Old English 'stedefæst', firm in its place, a compound of 'stede' (place) and 'fæst' (fixed, firm). The historical chain includes Old English stedefæst and Old English fæst. The quoted older senses, "stedefæst", "stede", and "fæst", supply the semantic anchors for steadfast. The formation is best read as compound and borrowed: the word steadfast carries its older form-history into a compact English lexical shape. In present English it is used as a adj, "firmly fixed in purpose or loyalty; unwavering". English derivatives include steadfastly and steadfastness; related English forms include stead, fast, and steady. The result is a adj whose etymology preserves both the older form and the later English specialization.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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