STAY

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English stæg; akin to Old Norse stag ~ Date: before 12th century a large strong rope usually of wire used to support a mast, guy I, II. verb Date: 1627 transitive verb to secure upright with or as if with ~s, to incline (a mast) forward, aft, or to one side by the ~s, intransitive verb to go about ; tack , III. verb (~ed; also staid; ~ing) see: stand Date: 15th century intransitive verb to stop going forward ; pause , to stop doing something ; cease , to continue in a place or condition ; remain , to stand firm, to take up residence ; lodge , to keep even in a contest or rivalry , to call a poker bet without raising, to be in waiting or attendance, transitive verb to wait for ; await , to stick or remain with (as a race or trial of endurance) to the end, to remain during , 4. to stop or delay the proceeding or advance of by or as if by interposing an obstacle ; halt , to check the course of (as a disease), allay , pacify , to quiet the hunger of temporarily, see: defer IV. noun Date: 1536 1. the action of halting ; the state of being stopped, a stopping or suspension of procedure or execution by judicial or executive order, self-control , moderation, a residence or sojourn in a place, capacity for endurance, V. noun see: stake Date: 14th century one that serves as a prop ; support , a thin firm strip (as of plastic) used for stiffening a garment or part (as a shirt collar), a corset stiffened with bones, VI. transitive verb Date: 1548 to provide physical or moral support for ; sustain , to fix on something as a foundation