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steward Definition

stew·ard (sto̵̅o̅ərd, styo̵̅o̅-)

noun

  1. a person put in charge of the affairs of a large household or estate, whose duties include supervision of the kitchen and the servants, management of household accounts, etc.
  2. one who acts as a supervisor or administrator, as of finances and property, for another or others
  3. a person variously responsible for the food and drink, the service personnel, etc. in a club, restaurant, etc.
  4. a person, usually one of a group, in charge of arrangements for a ball, race, meeting, etc.
    1. an attendant, as on a ship, train, etc., employed to look after the passengers' comfort
    2. flight attendant
  5. an officer on a ship who is in charge of stores and culinary arrangements
  6. shop steward
  7. a person morally responsible for the careful use of money, time, talents, or other resources, esp. with respect to the principles or needs of a community or group our responsibility as stewards of the earth's resources

Etymology: ME stiward < OE stiweard < stig, enclosure, hall, sty + weard, keeper, ward

intransitive verb

to act as a steward

transitive verb

to be the steward of (something); manage

steward Related Forms
stew·ard·ship′ noun
steward Synonyms

steward

n.

  1. A manager

    agent, chamberlain, purser; see administrator.

  2. An attendant

    waiter, waitress, porter, flight attendant, stewardess, host, hostess, maitre d'*.

steward Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • elect: The stewards within an NHS region elect a regional steward.
  • appoint: The appointed stewards for the meeting ensure compliance from all present.

Adjective modifier

  • unjust: And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely.
  • faithful: Help us to be faithful stewards of our planet.
  • chief: Among them were the chief steward of the vessel.
  • wise: Help us to be wise stewards of what you've given us.
  • senior: Emergency vehicles attending the site should be met by the person in charge of safety or a senior steward.
  • revolutionary: They also gave notice c further efforts to set up a network c revolutionary shop stewards in the factories.

Modifies a noun

  • committee: She is a lovely girl, who is so keen to learn and an asset to the shop stewards committee.

Noun used with modifier

  • twice-a-day: Alumni there are prices ever starting by the funnel including twice-a-day steward.
  • shop: Mr Cairns is a full time shop steward within Coventry City on behalf of the TGWU.
  • cabin: Your cabin steward will be able to answer any questions you may have.
  • lord: However, there were certain functions which the lord steward was obliged to undertake whenever parliament was in being.
  • union: I was berating people as tho I was a trade union shop steward!
  • volunteer: In 1998 also, I was a volunteer steward on the festival camp site.

Possessives

  • inquiry: It came as no surprise when a stewards ' inquiry was announced.

Possessives

  • ship: Lunches and dinners are served to the table by our ship's stewards, and breakfast is served here also but is buffet style.

Preposition: of

  • manor: The manorial courts are still held, and the Court Rolls are with the rector's solicitor as steward of the manor.
  • mystery: This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
  • grace: As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
steward Quotes

   Who sees pale Mammon pine amidst his store, Sees but a backward steward for the poor; This year a reservoir, to keep and spare, The next a fountain, spouting through his heir, In lavish streams to quench a country's thirst, And men and dogs shall drink him 'till they burst.

—Pope, Alexander

And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

—Bible (NewTestament)

Browse dictionary entries near steward

  1. stew in one's own juice
  2. stew
  3. Stevenson
  4. Stevens
  5. Steven
  6. stevedore
  7. Steuben
  8. Stettin
  9. Stetson
  10. stethoscope
  1. stewardess
  2. Stewart
  3. stewed
  4. stewpan
  5. stg
  6. stge
  7. sthenic
  8. stibine
  9. stibnite
  10. stich