*sterl*

n. [ See -lite. ] A variety of feldspar found in crystals in the county of Chester, Pennsylvania. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Disastrously. [ Obs. ] Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Sterling. ] 1. A native of a country eastward of another; -- used, by the English, of traders or others from the coasts of the Baltic. [ 1913 Webster ]

Merchants of Norway, Denmark, . . . called . . . Easterlings because they lie east in respect of us. Holinshed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A piece of money coined in the east by Richard II. of England. Crabb. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zoöl.) The smew. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to the money of the Easterlings, or Baltic traders. See Sterling. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Coming from the east; as, it was easterly wind. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Situated, directed, or moving toward the east; as, the easterly side of a lake; an easterly course or voyage. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Toward, or in the direction of, the east. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. fōstorling. ] A foster child. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Destitute of luster; dim; dull. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Destitute of a master or owner; ungoverned or ungovernable. -- Mas"ter*less*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

n. The quality or state of being masterly; ability to control wisely or skillfully. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Suitable to, or characteristic of, a master; indicating thorough knowledge or superior skill and power; showing a master's hand; as, a masterly design; a masterly performance; a masterly policy. “A wise and masterly inactivity.” Sir J. Mackintosh. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Imperious; domineering; arbitrary. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With the skill of a master. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou dost speak masterly. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to the northeast; toward the northeast, or coming from the northeast. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Toward the northeast. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Toward the northwest, or from the northwest. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A young oyster. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Resembling plaster of Paris. [ R. ] “Out of gypseous or plasterly ground.” Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Blustering; violent. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a roistering manner. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a sinister manner. Wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like a sister; becoming a sister, affectionate; as, sisterly kindness; sisterly remorse. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. To ward or from the southwest; as, a southwesterly course; a southwesterly wind. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Russ. sterliade. ] (Zool.) A small sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) found in the Caspian Sea and its rivers, and highly esteemed for its flavor. The finest caviar is made from its roe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Engin.) Same as Starling, 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. sterlynge, starling, for easterling, LL. esterlingus, probably from Easterling, once the popular name of German trades in England, whose money was of the purest quality: cf. MHG. sterlink a certain coin. Cf. East. “Certain merchants of Norwaie, Denmarke, and of others those parties, called Ostomanni, or (as in our vulgar language we tearme them), easterlings, because they lie east in respect of us.” Holinshed. “In the time of . . . King Richard the First, monie coined in the east parts of Germanie began to be of especiall request in England for the puritie thereof, and was called Easterling monie, as all inhabitants of those parts were called Easterlings, and shortly after some of that countrie, skillful in mint matters and allaies, were sent for into this realme to bring the coine to perfection; which since that time was called of them sterling, for Easterling.” Camden. “Four thousand pound of sterlings.” R. of Gloucester. ] 1. Any English coin of standard value; coined money. [ 1913 Webster ]

So that ye offer nobles or sterlings. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

And Roman wealth in English sterling view. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A certain standard of quality or value for money. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sterling was the known and approved standard in England, in all probability, from the beginning of King Henry the Second's reign. S. M. Leake. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Belonging to, or relating to, the standard British money of account, or the British coinage; as, a pound sterling; a shilling sterling; a penny sterling; -- now chiefly applied to the lawful money of England; but sterling cost, sterling value, are used. “With sterling money.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Genuine; pure; of excellent quality; conforming to the highest standard; of full value; as, a work of sterling merit; a man of sterling good sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not sisterly. Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the west; toward the west; coming from the west; western. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Toward the west; westward. [ 1913 Webster ]