STALE

adj. & v. --adj. (staler, stalest) 1 a not fresh, not quite new (stale bread is best for toast). b musty, insipid, or otherwise the worse for age or use. 2 trite or unoriginal (a stale joke; stale news). 3 (of an athlete or other performer) having ability impaired by excessive exertion or practice. 4 Law (esp. of a claim) having been left dormant for an unreasonably long time. --v.tr. & intr. make or become stale. øøstalely adv. staleness n. [ME, prob. f. AF & OF f. estaler halt: cf. STALL(1)]