Stir | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Stīr, v. t.

verbtransitive

(18), v. t. [imp. & p. p. STIRRED; p. pr. & vb. n. STIRRING.] [A-S. styrien, D. storen, O. H. Ger. stōrjan, stōran, N. H. Ger. stören, Sw. störa, Norw. störe.] 1. To change the place of in any manner; to move. My foot I had never yet in five days been able to stir. Sir W. Temple. 2. To bring into debate; to agitate. Stir not questions of jurisdiction. Bacon. 3. To incite to action; to instigate; to prompt; to excite. An Ate stirring him to blood and strife. Shak. And for her sake some mutiny will stir. Dryden. To stir up. (a.) To disturb; as, to stir up the sediment of liquor. (b.) To excite thoroughly; to animate; to instigate by inflaming passions; as, to stir up a nation to rebellion. (c.) To put into action; to begin; as, to stir up a mutiny or insurrection; to stir up strife. (d.) To quicken; to enliven; to make more lively or vigorous; as, to stir up the mind. Syn.—To move; incite; awaken; rouse; animate; stimulate; excite; provoke.

Stīr, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. 1. To move one's self; to change one's position; not to be still.

Sense 2. To be in motion; to be active. All are not fit with them to stir and toil. Byron.

Sense 3. To become the object of notice or conversation. They fancy they have a right to talk freely upon every thing that stirs or appears. Watts.

Sense 4. To rise in the morning. [Collog.] Shak.

Stir, n.

noun

[From the verb.] 1. Agitation; tumult; bustle; noise or various movements.

Why all these words, this clamor, and this stir? Denham. Consider, after so much stir about the genus and species, how few words have yet settled definitions. Locke.

Sense 2. Public disturbance or commotion; tumultuous disorder; seditious uproar.

Being advertised of some stir raised by his unnatural sons in England, he departed from Ireland without a blow. Davies.