Jan 22, 2019 17:45
5 yrs ago
4 viewers *
English term
steward
English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Hi, I don't quite understand what is intended with the word "steward" in the following passage taken from the Acknowledgments section of a book... The author often refers to the book as a journey but I'm not sure the use of "steward" is linked to this aspect...
thank you for your help!
***
In the reading of the manuscript in its various stages, or discussing some of the ideas related to its fundamental structure, many offered their helpful comments to make the book into what it has become, ** guiding me as its steward ** to appreciate what was working and what needed more expansion or clarification.
thank you for your help!
***
In the reading of the manuscript in its various stages, or discussing some of the ideas related to its fundamental structure, many offered their helpful comments to make the book into what it has become, ** guiding me as its steward ** to appreciate what was working and what needed more expansion or clarification.
Responses
| 4 +6 | the person with overall responsibility |
philgoddard
|
| 3 -1 | usher |
ANDRES PEREZ DIAZ
|
Responses
+6
9 mins
philgoddard
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
Six languages into flawless English
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
12
Selected
the person with overall responsibility
Definition 5 here:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steward
The implication is that the author is gently guiding the project in the right direction as part of a team.
Knowinnovation is stewarding the project by facilitating its major meetings
http://knowinnovation.com/2012/08/earthcube-a-community-proj...
I felt like a bad parent, stewarding the book into the world, then neglecting it. I want it to have its own life, and me its Auntie Mame.
http://firstbookinterviews.blogspot.com/2009/02/15-james-all...
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steward
The implication is that the author is gently guiding the project in the right direction as part of a team.
Knowinnovation is stewarding the project by facilitating its major meetings
http://knowinnovation.com/2012/08/earthcube-a-community-proj...
I felt like a bad parent, stewarding the book into the world, then neglecting it. I want it to have its own life, and me its Auntie Mame.
http://firstbookinterviews.blogspot.com/2009/02/15-james-all...
Note from asker:
| Thank you so much, Phil! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: yep just about to post much the same...
5 mins
|
| agree |
P.L.F. Persio
9 mins
|
| agree |
AllegroTrans
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Charles Davis
8 hrs
|
| agree |
Tony M
17 hrs
|
| agree |
Tina Vonhof (X)
: I would prefer the person or persons who provide guidance as the author puts it. The context mentions 'many people, so no-one had the overall responsibility other than the author.
21 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you so much, Phil, for your help! many thanks also to all other contributors!"
-1
4 hrs
ANDRES PEREZ DIAZ
Colombia
Colombia
Works in field
Colombia
Los idiomas le dan sentido a mi vida
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, Spanish, and 1 more.
usher
the person who guides you in a concerthall to your seat?
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Note added at 4 hrs (2019-01-22 22:44:25 GMT)
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I think it is an analogy
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Note added at 4 hrs (2019-01-22 22:44:25 GMT)
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I think it is an analogy
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Tony M
: That is only one extremely narrow meaning of 'steward', and sits uneasily here: who would 'usher' a book? This is the much more important and relevant (here) sense of 'custodian' etc.
12 hrs
|
Discussion
Thanks again!
The trouble with using a ship analogy is that the 'steward' is specifically NOT associated with the running of the nautical side of the ship (e.g. helmsman) — they are part of the hotel infrastructure that looks after the passengers.
Hence you are seeking to swap one metaphor for another quite different one that is relaly nothing to do with what the writer wrote or (I'm sure) meant.
Actually, I've seen that a possible synonym of "steward" was to "guide" "govern"
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steward#synonyms
So I thought that "essere al timone" in a figurative sense of "steering ", being at the helm, might be suitable: he is the author of the book (he is at the helm) but the ship needs also other people to move...
Thanks again for your help!