steward

[stoo-erd, styoo-]

noun

1. a person who manages another's property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others.

2. a person who has charge of the household of another, buying or obtaining food, directing the servants, etc.

3. an employee who has charge of the table, wine, servants, etc., in a club, restaurant, or the like.

4. a person who attends to the domestic concerns of persons on board a vessel, as in overseeing maids and waiters.

5. an employee on a ship, train, or bus who waits on and is responsible for the comfort of passengers, takes orders for or distributes food, etc.

6. a flight attendant.

7. a person appointed by an organization or group to supervise the affairs of that group at certain functions.

8. U.S. Navy.,  a petty officer in charge of officer's quarters and mess.

verb (used with object)

1. to act as steward of; manage.

verb (used without object)

1. to act or serve as steward.

steward

/ ˈstjʊəd /

noun

1. a person who administers the property, house, finances, etc, of another

2. a person who manages the eating arrangements, staff, or service at a club, hotel, etc

3. a person who attends to passengers on an aircraft, ship or train

4. a mess attendant in a naval mess afloat or ashore

5. a person who helps to supervise some event or proceedings in an official capacity

6. short for shop steward

verb

1. to act or serve as a steward (of something)

Other Word Forms

• stewardship noun
• understeward noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of steward¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English stīweard, stigweard, equivalent to stig- (sense uncertain; probably “house, hall”; sty ¹ ) + weard ward ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of steward¹

Old English stigweard, from stig hall (see _sty ) + weard _ward

Example Sentences

The stewards' report said that McLaren argued that "there was additional and unexpected porpoising at this event, limited opportunity to test due to the weather on day one, and shortened practice sessions".

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Kelsey Brown, a communications specialist at Cal State Los Angeles and California State University Employees Union steward, demanded that the board “prioritize classrooms over corner offices” during public comments before the meeting.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But about your bill: I ought to tell you that my steward was quite cross, as he had no record of approving such an expense.

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“But never mind that. First, the letter to the steward.”

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He also locked up his front left tyre, which presumably gave the stewards the impression that he was not "fully controlled".

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Related Words

• flight attendant 
• hostess 
• stewardess 
• waiter 
• waitress