To step in

Step Step, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Stepped}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Stepping}.] [AS. st[ae]ppan; akin to OFries. steppa, D. stappen to step, stap a step, OHG. stepfen to step, G. stapfe a footstep, OHG. stapfo, G. stufe a step to step on; cf. Gr. ? to shake about, handle roughly, stamp (?). Cf. {Stamp}, n. & a.] 1. To move the foot in walking; to advance or recede by raising and moving one of the feet to another resting place, or by moving both feet in succession. [1913 Webster]

2. To walk; to go on foot; esp., to walk a little distance; as, to step to one of the neighbors. [1913 Webster]

3. To walk slowly, gravely, or resolutely. [1913 Webster]

Home the swain retreats, His flock before him stepping to the fold. --Thomson. [1913 Webster]

4. Fig.: To move mentally; to go in imagination. [1913 Webster]

They are stepping almost three thousand years back into the remotest antiquity. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

{To step aside}, to walk a little distance from the rest; to retire from company.

{To step forth}, to move or come forth.

{To step in} or {To step into}. (a) To walk or advance into a place or state, or to advance suddenly in. [1913 Webster]

Whosoever then first, after the troubling of the water, stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. --John v. 4. [1913 Webster] (b) To enter for a short time; as, I just stepped into the house. (c) To obtain possession without trouble; to enter upon easily or suddenly; as, to step into an estate.

{To step out}. (a) (Mil.) To increase the length, but not the rapidity, of the step, extending it to thirty-tree inches. (b) To go out for a short distance or a short time.

{To step short} (Mil.), to diminish the length or rapidity of the step according to the established rules. [1913 Webster]