I. ˈstā noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English stæg; akin to Old Norse stag stay
Date: before 12th century
1. : a large strong rope usually of wire used to support a mast
2. : guy I
II. verb
Date: 1627
transitive verb
1. : to secure upright with or as if with stays
2. : to incline (a mast) forward, aft, or to one side by the stays
intransitive verb
: to go about : tack
III. verb
( stayed ˈstād ; also staid ˈstād ; stay·ing )
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French estei -, estai -, stem of ester to stand, stay, from Latin stare — more at stand
Date: 15th century
intransitive verb
1. : to stop going forward : pause
2. : to stop doing something : cease
3. : to continue in a place or condition : remain
stay ed up all night
went for a short vacation but stay ed on for weeks
stay put till I come back
4. : to stand firm
5. : to take up residence : lodge
6. : to keep even in a contest or rivalry
stay with the leaders
7. : to call a poker bet without raising
8. obsolete : to be in waiting or attendance
transitive verb
1. : to wait for : await
2. : to stick or remain with (as a race or trial of endurance) to the end — usually used in the phrase stay the course
3. : to remain during
stay ed the whole time
4.
a. : to stop or delay the proceeding or advance of by or as if by interposing an obstacle : halt
stay an execution
b. : to check the course of (as a disease)
c. : allay , pacify
stay ed tempers
d. : to quiet the hunger of temporarily
Synonyms: see defer
IV. noun
Date: 1536
1.
a. : the action of halting : the state of being stopped
b. : a stopping or suspension of procedure or execution by judicial or executive order
2. obsolete : self-control , moderation
3. : a residence or sojourn in a place
4. : capacity for endurance
V. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French estaie, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch stake pole, Middle Low German stak post, stake pole — more at stake
Date: 14th century
1. : one that serves as a prop : support
2. : a thin firm strip (as of plastic) used for stiffening a garment or part (as a shirt collar)
3. : a corset stiffened with bones — usually used in plural
VI. transitive verb
Date: 1548
1. : to provide physical or moral support for : sustain
2. : to fix on something as a foundation