What is "high steward"

High \High\, a. [Compar. Higher; superl. Highest.] [OE. high, hegh, hey, heh, AS. he['a]h, h?h; akin to OS. h?h, OFries. hag, hach, D. hoog, OHG. h?h, G. hoch, Icel. h?r, Sw. h["o]g, Dan. h["o]i, Goth. hauhs, and to Icel. haugr mound, G. h["u]gel hill, Lith. kaukaras.]

1. Elevated above any starting point of measurement, as a line, or surface; having altitude; lifted up; raised or extended in the direction of the zenith; lofty; tall; as, a high mountain, tower, tree; the sun is high.

2. Regarded as raised up or elevated; distinguished; remarkable; conspicuous; superior; -- used indefinitely or relatively, and often in figurative senses, which are understood from the connection; as

   1. Elevated in character or quality, whether moral or intellectual; pre["e]minent; honorable; as, high aims, or motives. ``The highest faculty of the soul.''
      --Baxter.

   2. Exalted in social standing or general estimation, or in rank, reputation, office, and the like; dignified; as, she was welcomed in the highest circles.

      He was a wight of high renown.
      --Shak.

   3. Of noble birth; illustrious; as, of high family.

   4. Of great strength, force, importance, and the like; strong; mighty; powerful; violent; sometimes, triumphant; victorious; majestic, etc.; as, a high wind; high passions. ``With rather a high manner.''
      --Thackeray.

      Strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
      --Ps. lxxxix. 1

3. Can heavenly minds such high resentment show?
   --Dryden. (e) Very abstract; difficult to comprehend or surmount; grand; noble.

   Both meet to hear and answer such high things.
   --Shak.

   Plain living and high thinking are no more.
   --Wordsworth. (f) Costly; dear in price; extravagant; as, to hold goods at a high price.

   If they must be good at so high a rate, they know they may be safe at a cheaper.
   --South. (g) Arrogant; lofty; boastful; proud; ostentatious; -- used in a bad sense.

   An high look and a proud heart . . . is sin.
   --Prov. xxi.

4. His forces, after all the high discourses, amounted really but to eighteen hundred foot.
   --Clarendon.

   3. Possessing a characteristic quality in a supreme or superior degree; as, high (i. e., intense) heat; high (i. e., full or quite) noon; high (i. e., rich or spicy) seasoning; high (i. e., complete) pleasure; high (i. e., deep or vivid) color; high (i. e., extensive, thorough) scholarship, etc.

   High time it is this war now ended were.
   --Spenser.

   High sauces and spices are fetched from the Indies.
   --Baker.

   4. (Cookery) Strong-scented; slightly tainted; as, epicures do not cook game before it is high.

5. (Mus.) Acute or sharp; -- opposed to grave or low; as, a high note.

6. (Phon.) Made with a high position of some part of the tongue in relation to the palate, as [=e] ([=e]ve), [=oo] (f[=oo]d). See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect][sect] 10, 1

   1. High admiral, the chief admiral.

      High altar, the principal altar in a church.

      High and dry, out of water; out of reach of the current or tide; -- said of a vessel, aground or beached.

      High and mighty arrogant; overbearing. [Colloq.]

      High art, art which deals with lofty and dignified subjects and is characterized by an elevated style avoiding all meretricious display.

      High bailiff, the chief bailiff.

      High Chur`ch, and Low Church, two ecclesiastical parties in the Church of England and the Protestant Episcopal Church. The high-churchmen emphasize the doctrine of the apostolic succession, and hold, in general, to a sacramental presence in the Eucharist, to baptismal regeneration, and to the sole validity of Episcopal ordination. They attach much importance to ceremonies and symbols in worship. Low-churchmen lay less stress on these points, and, in many instances, reject altogether the peculiar tenets of the high-church school. See Broad Church.

      High constable (Law), a chief of constabulary. See Constable, n.,

   2. High commission court, a court of ecclesiastical jurisdiction in England erected and united to the regal power by Queen Elizabeth in 1559. On account of the abuse of its powers it was abolished in 1641. High day (Script.), a holy or feast day. --John xix. 31. High festival (Eccl.), a festival to be observed with full ceremonial. High German, or High Dutch. See under German. High jinks, an old Scottish pastime; hence, noisy revelry; wild sport. [Colloq.] ``All the high jinks of the county, when the lad comes of age.'' --F. Harrison. High latitude (Geog.), one designated by the higher figures; consequently, a latitude remote from the equator. High life, life among the aristocracy or the rich. High liver, one who indulges in a rich diet. High living, a feeding upon rich, pampering food. High Mass. (R. C. Ch.) See under Mass. High milling, a process of making flour from grain by several successive grindings and intermediate sorting, instead of by a single grinding. High noon, the time when the sun is in the meridian. High place (Script.), an eminence or mound on which sacrifices were offered. High priest. See in the Vocabulary. High relief. (Fine Arts) See Alto-rilievo. High school. See under School. High seas (Law), the open sea; the part of the ocean not in the territorial waters of any particular sovereignty, usually distant three miles or more from the coast line. --Wharton. High steam, steam having a high pressure. High steward, the chief steward. High tea, tea with meats and extra relishes. High tide, the greatest flow of the tide; high water. High time.

      1. Quite time; full time for the occasion.

      2. A time of great excitement or enjoyment; a carousal. High treason, treason against the sovereign or the state, the highest civil offense. See Treason. Note: It is now sufficient to speak of high treason as treason simply, seeing that petty treason, as a distinct offense, has been abolished. --Mozley & W. High water, the utmost flow or greatest elevation of the tide; also, the time of such elevation. High-water mark.

         1. That line of the seashore to which the waters ordinarily reach at high water.

         2. A mark showing the highest level reached by water in a river or other body of fresh water, as in time of freshet. High-water shrub (Bot.), a composite shrub ( Iva frutescens), growing in salt marshes along the Atlantic coast of the United States. High wine, distilled spirits containing a high percentage of alcohol; -- usually in the plural. To be on a high horse, to be on one's dignity; to bear one's self loftily. [Colloq.] With a high hand.

            1. With power; in force; triumphantly. ``The children of Israel went out with a high hand.''
               --Ex. xiv. 8.

            2. In an overbearing manner, arbitrarily. ``They governed the city with a high hand.''
               --Jowett (Thucyd. ).

               Syn: Tall; lofty; elevated; noble; exalted; supercilious; proud; violent; full; dear. See Tall.

High Steward or Lord High Steward may refer to:

• High Steward (academia) in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge
• High steward (Ancient Egypt), in the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom
• High steward (civic) of various towns in England
• Lord High Steward of England
• Lord High Steward of Ireland
• High Steward of Scotland
• Lord High Steward of Sweden
• High Steward of Westminster Abbey
• Grand Master of France
• Mayordomo mayor, High Steward of Spain

The High Steward in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge (sometimes erroneously known as the Lord High Steward) is a university official. Originally a deputy for the Chancellor, the office of High Steward had by the 18th century undergone the same evolution and become a position by which the universities honoured prominent external figures. The High Stewards still retain some functions relating to adjudication in disputes, appeals, and deputizing if there is a vacancy in the Chancellorship. In Oxford, the office of High Steward is now more similar to the office of Commissary in Cambridge.

In Cambridge, the High Steward is elected by the members of the University Senate voting in person, one of that body's few remaining functions, and holds office until he or she voluntarily resigns or until the Senate otherwise determines. The Deputy High Steward is appointed by the High Steward by Letters Patent. The High Steward and the Deputy High Steward perform "such duties as have heretofore been customary and any duties prescribed by Statute or Ordinance". When the office of High Steward is vacant the duties of that office are performed by the Deputy High Steward.

In Oxford, the High Steward is appointed by the Chancellor of the University.

High steward is an honorary title bestowed by the councils or charter trustees of certain towns and cities in England. Originally a judicial office with considerable local powers, by the 17th century it had declined to a largely ceremonial role. The title is usually awarded for life, and in some cases has become associated with a particular peerage title. As of 2007 twenty-four communities have the right to confer the status of high steward, although the office is in abeyance in a number of these.

The high steward (also called chief steward or great overseer of the house; Egyptian: imi-r pr wr) was an important official at the royal court in Ancient Egypt in the Middle Kingdom and in the New Kingdom. He was the main person in charge of the estates supplying the palace and the royal residence with food. The office appears in the 11th Dynasty. To the earliest title holders belong Henenu and Meketre. After the vizier and the treasurer this was the most important office at the royal court; important title holders of the 12th Dynasty were Siese and Khnumhotep III, both were later in their career appointed vizier.

The title was still very important in the New Kingdom and was in this period often called high steward of the king. An important title holder of the New Kingdom was Senenmut under Hatshepsut, other include Wadjetrenput serving under the same queen.

In the Late Period there were high stewards in charges of the estates of the God's Wife of Amun. These were highly wealthy officials known from their monumental tombs at Thebens. Title holders include Ibi and Harwa. Other high stewards, such as Payeftjauemawyneith are still well attested at the royal court.