Steer
/stɪər/noun
To guide or control the direction of a vehicle, person, or course of action.
Did you know?The verb comes from a very old root meaning “to turn” or “to move,” which is why its deepest relatives are words for motion and travel, not just driving.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steh₂-
“to stand, make firm; in some later branches, to cause to move/turn in related formations”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*staurijaną
“to direct, govern, steer”
Old English
OE
stēoran
“to steer, govern, direct”
Middle English
ME
steren
“to steer a ship; guide, direct”
Modern English
English
steer
“to guide the course of a vehicle or action”