/ stɔːntʃ; NAmE / adjective , verb
■ adjective
( superlative staunch·est , no comparative ) strong and loyal in your opinions and attitude
SYN faithful :
a staunch supporter of the monarchy
one of the president's staunchest allies
a staunch Catholic
► staunch·ly adverb :
She staunchly defended the new policy.
The family was staunchly Protestant.
► staunch·ness noun [ U ]
■ verb
(also stanch / stɔːntʃ; NAmE ; stæntʃ/ especially in NAmE ) [ vn ] ( formal ) to stop the flow of sth, especially blood
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WORD ORIGIN
adjective and adverb late Middle English (in the sense watertight : from Old French estanche , feminine of estanc , from a Romance base meaning dried up, weary. The current sense dates from the early 17th cent.
verb Middle English : from Old French estanchier , from the base of the adjective staunch .