From Middle English steyen, staien, from Old French estayer, estaier (“to fix, prop up, support, stay”), from estaye, estaie (“a prop, stay”), from Middle Dutch staeye (“a prop, stay”), a contracted form of staede, stade (“a prop, stay, help, aid”) (compare Middle Dutch staeyen, staeden (“to make firm, stay, support, hold still, stabilise”)), from Proto-West Germanic *stadi (“a site, place, location, standing”), from Proto-Germanic *stadiz (“a standing, place”), from Proto-Indo-European *stéh₂tis (“standing”). Influenced by Old English stæġ ("a stay, rope"; see below). Cognate with Old English stede (“a place, spot, locality, fixed position, station, site, standing, status, position of a moving body, stopping, standing still, stability, fixity, firmness, steadfastness”), Swedish stödja (“to prop, support, brace, hold up, bolster”), Icelandic stöðug (“continuous, stable”). More at stead, steady.
Sense of "remain, continue" may be due to later influence from Old French ester, esteir (“to stand, be, continue, remain”), from Latin stāre (“stand”), from the same Proto-Indo-European root above; however, derivation from this root is untenable based on linguistic and historical grounds.
An alternative etymology derives Old French estaye, estaie, from Frankish *stakā, *stakō (“stake, post”), from Proto-Germanic *stakô (“stake, bar, stick, pole”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teg- (“rod, pole, stick”), making it cognate with Old English staca (“pin, stake”), Old English stician (“to stick, be placed, lie, remain fixed”). Cognate with Albanian shtagë (“a long stick, a pole”). More at stake, stick.
Meanings
Continuance or a period of time spent in a place; abode for an indefinite time.
I hope you enjoyed your stay in Hawaii.
A postponement, especially of an execution or other punishment.
Later that day, however, Judge O'Kelley signed a stay of execution when Mr. Potts authorized other attorneys to renew his appeals. 1980 June 25, “A.C.L.U. Seeks to Stay Execution of Georgian”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
An appellate judge temporarily stayed the monitor’s work until a three-judge federal appeals panel can decide whether the stay should be kept in place longer while Apple undertakes a full challenge to the appointment of a monitor. 2014 January 21, Matthew Goldstein, “Apple Wins Temporary Stay on Court Monitor”, in New York Times:
The governor granted a stay of execution.
Just before the deadline Donald Kowalski's attorney, Jack Fena, was able to obtain a stay in order to give him time to file a motion to overturn the testing order. 1988 August 20, Jennie McKnight, “'Free Sharon Kowalski Day' Events Draw National Attention”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 6, page 10:
(archaic) A stop; a halt; a break or cessation of action, motion, or progress.
Affaires of state […] seemed rather to stand at a stay. a. 1628 (date written), John Hayward, The Life, and Raigne of King Edward the Sixt, London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press, and J. Lichfield at Oxford?] for Iohn Partridge, […], published 1630, →OCLC:
stand at a stay
Made of ſphear-metal, never to decay / Untill his revolution was at ſtay. 1646 (indicated as 1645), John Milton, “Another on the ſame”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], →OCLC, page 29:
A fixed state; fixedness; stability; permanence.
A station or fixed anchorage for vessels.
Restraint of passion; prudence; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.
With prudent stay he long deferred / The rough contention. 1705, John Philips, Blenheim:
The wisdom, stay, and moderation of the king. 1622, Francis, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban [i.e. Francis Bacon], The Historie of the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh, […], London: […] W[illiam] Stansby for Matthew Lownes, and William Barret, →OCLC:
Not grudging that thy lust hath bounds and stays. 1633, George Herbert, The Church Porch:
(obsolete) Hindrance; let; check.
They were able to read good authors without any stay, if the book were not false. 1551, Thomas More, “(please specify the Internet Archive page)”, in Raphe Robynson [i.e., Ralph Robinson], transl., A Fruteful, and Pleasaunt Worke of the Best State of a Publyque Weale, and of the Newe Yle Called Utopia: […], London: […] [Steven Mierdman for] Abraham Vele, […], →OCLC:
eo restado (residence — see also sojourn) · fi vierailu (residence — see also sojourn) · uk пробува́ння (residence — see also sojourn) · fi rajoite (hindrance, let, check) · es estada (residence — see also sojourn) · fi oleskelu (residence — see also sojourn) · cs odložení (postponement, esp. of a punishment) · fr séjour (residence — see also sojourn) · uk перебува́ння (residence — see also sojourn) · cmn 停留 (residence — see also sojourn) · es estalaje (residence — see also sojourn) · ar إِقَامَة (residence — see also sojourn) · pt suspensão (postponement, esp. of a punishment) · uk по́бут (residence — see also sojourn) · sv uppehåll (postponement, esp. of a punishment) · sv uppehåll (residence — see also sojourn) · de Aufenthalt (residence — see also sojourn) · bg спиране (stop, halt, break of action) · sk pobyt (residence — see also sojourn) · ja 滞在 (residence — see also sojourn) · be прабыва́нне (residence — see also sojourn) · fi este (hindrance, let, check) · fi lykkäys (postponement, esp. of a punishment) · bg стабилност (fixed state, stability) · lt viešėjimas (residence — see also sojourn) · sh bòravak (residence — see also sojourn) · fi pysähdys (stop, halt, break of action) · grc ἐπιδημία (residence — see also sojourn) · ru отсро́чка (postponement, esp. of a punishment) · lt pabuvimas (residence — see also sojourn) · cs pobyt (residence — see also sojourn) · pt estada (residence — see also sojourn) · bg стоянка (nautical: station or fixed anchorage for vessels) · he שהות (residence — see also sojourn) · bg отла́гане (postponement, esp. of a punishment) · fi pysyvyys (fixed state, stability) · de Aussetzung (postponement, esp. of a punishment) · bg сдържаност (restraint of passion, prudence, moderation) · cs odklad (postponement, esp. of a punishment) · sv uppehåll (stop, halt, break of action) · sv avbrott (stop, halt, break of action) · mk престој (residence — see also sojourn) · it permanenza (residence — see also sojourn) · et viivitus (postponement, esp. of a punishment) · bg пребива́ване (residence — see also sojourn) · fi käynti (residence — see also sojourn) · sv vistelse (residence — see also sojourn) · grc μονή (residence — see also sojourn) · nl uitstel (postponement, esp. of a punishment) · es estancia (residence — see also sojourn) · sh бо̀равак (residence — see also sojourn) · fi rajoitus (hindrance, let, check) · ru пребыва́ние (residence — see also sojourn) · es estadía (residence — see also sojourn) · bg спи́ране (residence — see also sojourn) · sv anstånd (postponement, esp. of a punishment) · nb opphold (residence — see also sojourn) · fi ankkurointipaikka (nautical: station or fixed anchorage for vessels) · cmn 旅居 (residence — see also sojourn) · nl verblijf (residence — see also sojourn) · pt estadia (residence — see also sojourn) · pl pobyt (residence — see also sojourn) · hu tartózkodás (residence — see also sojourn) · fi maltti (restraint of passion, prudence, moderation) · ko 체재 (residence — see also sojourn) · cs odročení (postponement, esp. of a punishment) · ko 체류 (residence — see also sojourn) · sl bivanje (residence — see also sojourn) · be по́быт (residence — see also sojourn) · bg престо́й (residence — see also sojourn) · ja 滞留 (residence — see also sojourn) · fi vakaus (fixed state, stability)
From Middle English steyen, staien, from Old French estayer, estaier (“to fix, prop up, support, stay”), from estaye, estaie (“a prop, stay”), from Middle Dutch staeye (“a prop, stay”), a contracted form of staede, stade (“a prop, stay, help, aid”) (compare Middle Dutch staeyen, staeden (“to make firm, stay, support, hold still, stabilise”)), from Proto-West Germanic *stadi (“a site, place, location, standing”), from Proto-Germanic *stadiz (“a standing, place”), from Proto-Indo-European *stéh₂tis (“standing”). Influenced by Old English stæġ ("a stay, rope"; see below). Cognate with Old English stede (“a place, spot, locality, fixed position, station, site, standing, status, position of a moving body, stopping, standing still, stability, fixity, firmness, steadfastness”), Swedish stödja (“to prop, support, brace, hold up, bolster”), Icelandic stöðug (“continuous, stable”). More at stead, steady.
Sense of "remain, continue" may be due to later influence from Old French ester, esteir (“to stand, be, continue, remain”), from Latin stāre (“stand”), from the same Proto-Indo-European root above; however, derivation from this root is untenable based on linguistic and historical grounds.
An alternative etymology derives Old French estaye, estaie, from Frankish *stakā, *stakō (“stake, post”), from Proto-Germanic *stakô (“stake, bar, stick, pole”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teg- (“rod, pole, stick”), making it cognate with Old English staca (“pin, stake”), Old English stician (“to stick, be placed, lie, remain fixed”). Cognate with Albanian shtagë (“a long stick, a pole”). More at stake, stick.
Meanings
(intransitive) To remain in a particular place, especially for a definite or short period of time; sojourn; abide.
1874 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Three Friends of Mine,” IV, in The Masque of Pandora and Other Poems, Boston: James R. Osgood, 1875, p. 353,
I stay a little longer, as one stays / To cover up the embers that still burn.
She would commaund the hasty Sunne to stay,
Or backward turne his course from heuen's hight, 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 140:
“Well,” I says, “I cal'late a body could get used to Tophet if he stayed there long enough.” ¶ She flared up; the least mite of a slam at Doctor Wool was enough to set her going. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter V, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
We stayed in Hawaii for a week. I can only stay for an hour.
Stay, I command you; stay and hear me first, 1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act IV, page 60:
(copulative, intransitive) To continue to have a particular quality.
Promise me you'll always stay/remain my little prince.
The dirty secret of the internet is that all this distraction and interruption is immensely profitable. Web companies like to boast about […], or offering services that let you "stay up to date with what your friends are doing",[…]and so on. But the real way to build a successful online business is to be better than your rivals at undermining people's control of their own attention. 2013 June 21, Oliver Burkeman, “The tao of tech”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 27:
The three men in the room stayed motionless, holding their breaths. 1943, Graham Greene, The Ministry of Fear, London: Heinemann, published 1960, Book 3, Chapter 2, p. 210:
The evergreen arch wouldn’t stay firm after she got it up, but wiggled and threatened to tumble down on her head when the hanging baskets were filled. 1869, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, chapter XXX, in Little Women: […], 2nd part, Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC:
Wear gloves so your hands stay warm.
For as the Flames augment, and as they stay / At their full Height, then languish to decay, / They rise, and sink by Fits […] 1700, [John] Dryden, “Meleager and Atalanta, out of the Eighth Book of Ovid’s Metamorphosis”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 118:
(transitive) To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.
Lord Mayor of London. See, where he stands between two clergymen!
Duke of Buckingham. Two props of virtue for a Christian prince,
To stay him from the fall of vanity: c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene vii]:
Sallows and Reeds, on Banks of Rivers born,
Remain to cut; for Vineyards useful found,
To stay thy Vines and fence thy fruitful Ground. 1725, John Dryden, transl., Virgil’s Husbandry, or an Essay on the Georgics, London, Book 2, p. 37:
Draw in your right elbow, turn your hand outward and bear it lightly, gripe not the pen too hard, with your left hand stay the paper. 1677, Hannah Woolley, “Directions for Writing the most Vsual and Legible Hands for Women”, in The Compleat Servant-Maid, London: T. Passinger, page 17:
But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 17:12:
(transitive) To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.
[…] he has devoured a whole loaf of bread and butter, as fast as Phoebe could cut it, and it has not staid his stomach for a minute […] 1826, [Walter Scott], chapter XX, in Woodstock; Or, The Cavalier. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, →OCLC:
(transitive) To stop or delay something. ▸ To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder.
The task of recalling him from the vagrancy into which he always sank when he had spoken, was like recalling some very weak person from a swoon, or endeavouring, in the hope of some disclosure, to stay the spirit of a fast-dying man. 1859, Charles Dickens, chapter 6, in A Tale of Two Cities, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC:
Your ships are stay’d at Venice. c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
1671, John Evelyn, Diary, entry dated 14 November, 1671, in The Diary of John Evelyn, London: Macmillan, 1906, Volume 2, p. 337,
This business staid me in London almost a week […]
[…] I was willing to stay my Reader on an Argument, that appears to me new […] 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], chapter 5, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC, book III, page 207:
[…] she filled the room she entered, and felt often as she stood hesitating one moment on the threshold of her drawing-room, an exquisite suspense, such as might stay a diver before plunging while the sea darkens and brightens beneath him […] 1925, Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, published 1985, page 44:
She rose to leave but Libor stayed her. 2010, Howard Jacobson, chapter 9, in The Finkler Question, New York: Bloomsbury:
(transitive) To stop or delay something. ▸ To restrain; withhold; check; stop.
1597, Richard Hooker, Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, Book 5, in The Works of Mr. Richard Hooker, London: Andrew Crook, 1666, p. ,
[…] all that may but with any the least shew of possibility stay their mindes from thinking that true, which they heartily wish were false, but cannot think it so […]
Between Pegāna and the Earth flutter ten thousand thousand prayers that beat their wings against the face of Death, and never for one of them hath the hand of the Striker been stayed, nor yet have tarried the feet of the Relentless One. 1905, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], The Gods of Pegāna, London: [Charles] Elkin Mathews, […], →OCLC, page 23:
1852, Charlotte Brontë, letter cited in Elizabeth Gaskell, The Life of Charlotte Brontë, 1857, Volume 2, Chapter 10,
[…] you must follow the impulse of your own inspiration. If THAT commands the slaying of the victim, no bystander has a right to put out his hand to stay the sacrificial knife: but I hold you a stern priestess in these matters.
So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Samuel 24:7:
(transitive) To stop or delay something. ▸ To cause to cease; to put an end to.
For flattering planets seemed to say
This child should ills of ages stay, 1847, Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Threnody”, in Poems, Boston: James Munroe, page 242:
Now stay your strife […] c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
(transitive) To stop or delay something. ▸ To put off; defer; postpone; delay; keep back.
Without one word to deny himself, Yuan let himself be bound, his hands behind his back, and no one could stay the matter. 1935, Pearl S. Buck, A House Divided, London: Methuen, Part 1, p. 137:
The governor stayed the execution until the appeal could be heard.
As I curled up like a dying fish beneath his flailing boots, I managed to stay his assault long enough to tell him that I had only ever seen myself as his most loyal servant […] 2001, Richard Flanagan, “The Leatherjacket”, in Gould’s Book of Fish, New York: Grove, pages 187–188:
(transitive) To hold the attention of.
(obsolete, transitive) To bear up under; to endure; to hold out against; to resist.
She will not stay the siege of loving terms,
Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes, c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
(obsolete, transitive) To wait for; await.
Let me stay the growth of his beard, c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
My father stays my coming; c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
(obsolete, transitive) To remain for the purpose of; to stay to take part in or be present at (a meal, ceremony etc.).
How glad they had been to hear papa invite him to stay dinner, how sorry when he said it was quite out of his power […] 1817 (date written), [Jane Austen], chapter VII, in Persuasion; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volume (please specify |volume=III or IV), London: John Murray, […], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC:
Some of the company staid supper, which prevented the embarrassment that must unavoidably have arisen, had the family been by themselves. 1791, Elizabeth Inchbald, A Simple Story, Oxford, published 2009, page 177:
I stay dinner there. c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
(intransitive, obsolete) To rest; depend; rely.
Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 30:12:
I stay here on my bond. c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
(intransitive, obsolete) To stop; come to a stand or standstill.
(archaic, intransitive) To come to an end; cease.
Here my commission stays, 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
That day the storm stayed.
(archaic, intransitive) To dwell; linger; tarry; wait.
Yet not to be wholly silent of all your Charities I must stay a little on one Action, which preferr’d the Relief of Others, to the Consideration of your Self. 1700, John Dryden, Fables Ancient and Modern, London: Jacob Tonson, dedicatory epistle:
(dated, intransitive) To make a stand; to stand firm.
(intransitive) To hold out, as in a race or contest; last or persevere to the end; to show staying power.
That horse stays well.
(intransitive, obsolete) To wait; rest in patience or expectation.
"That is all. Stay—in the paper you have, look down the first money column and see if there is any reference to the Central and Suburban." 1914, Ernest Bramah, Max Carrados:
The Father cannot stay any longer for the Portion, nor the Mother for a new Sett of Babies to play with […] 1693, [John Locke], “(please specify the section number)”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC, page 260:
I’ll tell thee all my whole device / When I am in my coach, which stays for us. c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]:
(intransitive, obsolete, used with on or upon) To wait as an attendant; give ceremonious or submissive attendance.
Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure. c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
I have a servant comes with me along,
That stays upon me […] c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
pl zostawać (to continue to have a particular quality) · hu marad (to continue to have a particular quality) · bn রয়ে যাওয়া (to continue to have a particular quality) · rom aćhel (to remain in a particular place) · th อยู่ (to remain in a particular place) · la stō (to remain in a particular place) · zza vınden (to remain in a particular place) · de vertagen (to postpone) · lv palikt (to remain in a particular place) · fr rester (to continue to have a particular quality) · pt ficar (to remain in a particular place) · ug تۇرماق (to remain in a particular place) · la maneō (to remain in a particular place) · lmo stà (to remain in a particular place) · ru оста́ться (to continue to have a particular quality) · de sich aufhalten (to remain in a particular place) · br chom (to remain in a particular place) · az durmaq (to remain in a particular place) · ca restar (to remain in a particular place) · be заста́цца (to remain in a particular place) · ro amâna (to postpone) · rup armãn (to remain in a particular place) · ro rămâne (to remain in a particular place) · acw فضل (to remain in a particular place) · gl ficar (to continue to have a particular quality) · is haldast (to continue to have a particular quality) · ro întârzia (to postpone) · sq qëndroj (to remain in a particular place) · uz turmoq (to remain in a particular place) · sah хаал (to remain in a particular place) · ru отложи́ть (to postpone) · sh о̀стати (to remain in a particular place) · da blive (to remain in a particular place) · th คงอยู่ (to remain in a particular place) · fi jäädä (to remain in a particular place) · cmn 留 (to continue to have a particular quality) · nl verblijven (to remain in a particular place) · sv skjuta upp (to postpone) · he נִשְׁאַר (to remain in a particular place) · ist stà (to remain in a particular place) · es ficar (to remain in a particular place) · ga bí (to continue to have a particular quality) · es quedarse (to remain in a particular place) · km ឋិត (to remain in a particular place) · ca quedar-se (to remain in a particular place) · no bli (to remain in a particular place) · hy մնալ (to continue to have a particular quality) · de bleiben (to remain in a particular place) · sv förbli (to continue to have a particular quality) · ja のままでいる (to continue to have a particular quality) · es quedar (to postpone) · el μένω (to remain in a particular place) · bg отла́гам (to postpone) · br chom (to continue to have a particular quality) · gl parar (to remain in a particular place) · fr rester (to remain in a particular place) · frr bliwe (to remain in a particular place) · qu takuy (to remain in a particular place) · pt permanecer (to continue to have a particular quality) · br ampellat (to postpone) · la teneo (to continue to have a particular quality) · ang bīdan (to remain in a particular place) · got 𐌱𐌹𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (to remain in a particular place) · hu felfüggeszt (to postpone) · cs pobýt (to remain in a particular place) · ang wunian (to remain in a particular place) · et viivitama (to postpone) · ro rămâne, dăinui (to continue to have a particular quality) · ar بَقِيَ (to remain in a particular place) · pl pozostawać (to remain in a particular place) · fur stâ (to remain in a particular place) · nrf rester (to remain in a particular place) · hu elhalaszt (to postpone) · acw قعد (to remain in a particular place) · is vera (to continue to have a particular quality) · es permanecer (to postpone) · uk зостава́тися (to remain in a particular place) · sa तिष्ठति (to remain in a particular place) · is dvelja (to remain in a particular place) · frr bliiv (to remain in a particular place) · no bli (to continue to have a particular quality) · pt continuar (to continue to have a particular quality) · tr durmak (to remain in a particular place) · de aufschieben (to postpone) · bg оста́вам (to remain in a particular place) · uk затри́муватися (to remain in a particular place) · txb sāk- (to remain in a particular place) · fur restâ (to remain in a particular place) · sga anaid (to continue to have a particular quality) · ro sta (to continue to have a particular quality) · ko 묵다 (to remain in a particular place) · ar مَكَثَ (to remain in a particular place) · et jääma (to remain in a particular place) · ja 留まる (to remain in a particular place) · kea mora (to remain in a particular place) · fi viipyä (to remain in a particular place) · ky калуу (to remain in a particular place) · enm lenden (to remain in a particular place) · ro zăbovi (to remain in a particular place) · sv hålla sig (to continue to have a particular quality) · ja 宿泊する (to remain in a particular place) · alt калар (to remain in a particular place) · sq shtyj (to postpone) · de aussetzen (to postpone) · ga fan (to continue to have a particular quality) · ka დარჩენა (to remain in a particular place) · lt likti (to continue to have a particular quality) · az qalmaq (to remain in a particular place) · mi whakatārewa (to postpone) · sv vistas (to remain in a particular place) · grc μένω (to remain in a particular place) · ro sta (to remain in a particular place) · ang belīfan (to remain in a particular place) · no forbli (to continue to have a particular quality) · ja とまる (to remain in a particular place) · ja とどまる (to remain in a particular place) · sk zostať (to remain in a particular place) · eo resti (to continue to have a particular quality) · eo prokrasti (to postpone) · sl ostati (to remain in a particular place) · is vera (to remain in a particular place) · mk останува (to remain in a particular place) · lt pasilikti (to remain in a particular place) · vec star (to remain in a particular place) · cmn 呆 (to remain in a particular place) · mi tinaku (to postpone) · fr demeurer (to remain in a particular place) · fa ماندن (to remain in a particular place) · lo ປະທັບ (to remain in a particular place) · zdj huêshi (to remain in a particular place) · hu halaszt (to postpone) · pt manter (to continue to have a particular quality) · gl ficar (to remain in a particular place) · es hospedarse (to remain in a particular place) · pl pozostać (to remain in a particular place) · sh òstati (to remain in a particular place) · cs zůstat (to remain in a particular place) · cmn 留 (to remain in a particular place) · hu marad (to remain in a particular place) · it rimanere (to remain in a particular place) · sv stanna (to remain in a particular place) · hi रहना (to remain in a particular place) · ko 투숙하다 (to remain in a particular place) · sv senarelägga (to postpone) · nrf rester (to continue to have a particular quality) · ko 머무르다 (to remain in a particular place) · ms tinggal (to remain in a particular place) · hi ठहरना (to remain in a particular place) · hu késleltet (to postpone) · gl permanecer (to continue to have a particular quality) · ru останови́ться (to remain in a particular place) · ga fan (to remain in a particular place) · lut baʔs (to remain in a particular place) · sa तिष्ठति (to continue to have a particular quality) · et jääma (to continue to have a particular quality) · it restare (to remain in a particular place) · acw بقي (to remain in a particular place) · it restare (to continue to have a particular quality) · mi noho (to remain in a particular place) · pl zostać (to remain in a particular place) · hu tartózkodik (to remain in a particular place) · be застава́цца (to remain in a particular place) · eo resti (to remain in a particular place) · bn থাকা (to remain in a particular place) · sa गाधते (to remain in a particular place) · gsw bliibe (to remain in a particular place) · tt калырга (to remain in a particular place) · bn রওয়া (to remain in a particular place) · tl manatili (to remain in a particular place) · scn stari (to remain in a particular place) · km ប្រថាប់ (to remain in a particular place) · bg задъ́ржам (to continue to have a particular quality) · pt ficar (to continue to have a particular quality) · tr kalmak (to remain in a particular place) · pt adiar (to postpone) · ja のままである (to continue to have a particular quality) · nl uitstellen (to postpone) · nl blijven (to remain in a particular place) · mk остане (to remain in a particular place) · ko 숙박하다 (to remain in a particular place) · lo ຢູ່ (to remain in a particular place) · tl pa rin (to continue to have a particular quality) · my နေ (to remain in a particular place) · fi lykätä (to postpone) · es mantenerse (to continue to have a particular quality) · ajp بقي (to remain in a particular place) · es permanecer (to remain in a particular place) · ug قالماق (to remain in a particular place) · pl zostawać (to remain in a particular place) · uz qolmoq (to remain in a particular place) · om turuu (to remain in a particular place) · ja 残る (to remain in a particular place) · it essere (to continue to have a particular quality) · bg оста́на (to remain in a particular place) · ru остава́ться (to continue to have a particular quality) · gl quedar (to remain in a particular place) · et viibima (to remain in a particular place) · de bleiben (to continue to have a particular quality) · fi pysyä (to remain in a particular place) · yi בלײַבן (to remain in a particular place) · fi viipyä (to continue to have a particular quality) · nl blijven (to continue to have a particular quality) · tr konaklamak (to remain in a particular place) · ru остава́ться (to remain in a particular place) · kk қалу (to remain in a particular place) · ur رہنا (to remain in a particular place) · itk אַלְבֵירְגַארֵי (to remain in a particular place) · la sto (to continue to have a particular quality) · ru оста́ться (to remain in a particular place) · es quedar (to remain in a particular place) · hy մնալ (to remain in a particular place) · tg мондан (to remain in a particular place) · chy -sétoo'e (to remain in a particular place) · cs zůstat (to continue to have a particular quality) · apc ضل (to remain in a particular place) · sq rri (to remain in a particular place) · sl ostajati (to remain in a particular place) · vi ở (to remain in a particular place) · it stare (to remain in a particular place) · no forbli (to remain in a particular place) · ka გაჩერება (to remain in a particular place) · fi jäädä (to continue to have a particular quality) · it rimandare (to postpone) · tk durmak (to remain in a particular place) · pt permanecer (to remain in a particular place) · ru откла́дывать (to postpone) · el αναβάλλω (to postpone) · grc μένω (to continue to have a particular quality) · chr ᎡᏙᎮᏍᏗᏉᎠ (to remain in a particular place) · cs odložit (to postpone) · oc demorar (to remain in a particular place) · bn থাকা (to continue to have a particular quality) · ru остана́вливаться (to remain in a particular place) · el μένω (to continue to have a particular quality) · sw kukaa (to remain in a particular place) · ajp ضل (to remain in a particular place) · frr bliiw (to remain in a particular place)
From Middle English stay, from Old French estaye, estaie (“a prop, a stay”), from Middle Dutch staeye (“a prop, stay”), a contracted form of staede, stade ("a prop, stay, help, aid"; compare Middle Dutch staeyen, staeden (“to make firm, stay, support, hold still, stabilise”)), from Old Dutch *stad (“a site, place, location, standing”), from Proto-Germanic *stadiz (“a standing, place”), from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand”). See above.
Meanings
A prop; a support.
My onely strength and stay. 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
Even when the deceptive mask was torn away, and the broken-hearted parent, beholding the accursed fact, that his darling son, the fancied stay of his declining age, was enlisted against him in his brother's horrible revolt, cursed them both and died, not even then did one compunctuous visiting touch his callous heart. 1831, Peter Leicester, Arthur of Britanny, page 18:
The trees themselves serve, at the same time, as so many stays for their Vines 1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
April 27, 1823, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Table Talk
Lord Liverpool is the single stay of this ministry.
A piece of stiff material, such as plastic or whalebone, used to stiffen a piece of clothing.
Where are the stays for my collar?
(in-plural) A corset.
When Jenny's stays are newly laced. 1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Alma: Or, The Progress of the Mind”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], →OCLC:
Her figure was tall, yet not too tall; comely and well-developed, yet not fat; her head set on her shoulders with an easy, pliant firmness; her waist, perfection in the eyes of a man, for it occupied its natural place, it filled out its natural circle, it was visibly and delightfully undeformed by stays. 1859, Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White:
(archaic) A fastening for a garment; a hook; a clasp; anything to hang another thing on.
bg опора (prop, support) · bg банел (piece of stiff material to stiffen a piece of clothing) · mi hōngai (prop, support) · fi tukipylväs (prop, support) · mi pūrengi (prop, support) · gl esteo (prop, support) · sv fäste (hook, clasp, anything to hang another thing on) · fi vahvike (piece of stiff material to stiffen a piece of clothing) · sv stöd (prop, support) · fi naula (hook, clasp, anything to hang another thing on) · fa هاچه (prop, support) · mi hōkai (prop, support) · sv stötta (prop, support) · bg окачалка (hook, clasp, anything to hang another thing on) · fi tuki (prop, support)
From Middle English stay, from Old French estaye, estaie (“a prop, a stay”), from Middle Dutch staeye (“a prop, stay”), a contracted form of staede, stade ("a prop, stay, help, aid"; compare Middle Dutch staeyen, staeden (“to make firm, stay, support, hold still, stabilise”)), from Old Dutch *stad (“a site, place, location, standing”), from Proto-Germanic *stadiz (“a standing, place”), from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand”). See above.
Meanings
(qualifier:African-American Vernacular) Aspect marker indicating frequency or permanence.
From Middle English stay, from Old English stæġ (“stay, a rope supporting a mast”), from Proto-West Germanic *stag, from Proto-Germanic *stagą (“stay, rope”), from Proto-Indo-European *stek-, *stāk- (“stand, pole”), from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand”). Cognate with Dutch stag (“stay”), German Stag (“stay”), Swedish stag (“stay”), Icelandic stag (“stay”).
Meanings
A strong rope or wire supporting a mast, and leading from one masthead down to some other, or other part of the vessel.
A guy, rope, or wire supporting or stabilizing a platform, such as a bridge, a pole, such as a tentpole, the mast of a derrick, or other structural element.
The engineer insisted on using stays for the scaffolding.
The transverse piece in a chain-cable link.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
stays
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Deriveds
stay tackle (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · chainstay (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · astay (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · chain stay (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · jackstay (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · stayman (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · miss stays (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · bobstay (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · buckstay (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · funnel stay (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · staymaker (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · checkstay (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · headstay (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · stayless (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · staylace (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · staysail (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · spring stay (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · seat stay (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · babystay (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · storm stay (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · multistay (Terms derived from stay (noun)) · stayship (Terms derived from stay (noun))
Hyponyms
forestay (rope supporting a mast) · triatic stay (rope supporting a mast) · backstay (rope supporting a mast) · mainstay (rope supporting a mast)
de Ankerbolzen (transverse piece in a chain-cable link) · pl sztag (nautical: strong rope supporting a mast) · it tirante (guy, rope, or wire supporting a structural element) · de Bolzen (transverse piece in a chain-cable link) · nl stag (nautical: strong rope supporting a mast) · de Sprieße (transverse piece in a chain-cable link) · de Abspannung (guy, rope, or wire supporting a structural element) · de Strebe (guy, rope, or wire supporting a structural element) · de Strebe (transverse piece in a chain-cable link) · fi harus (guy, rope, or wire supporting a structural element) · de Stützbolzen (transverse piece in a chain-cable link) · sv stag (nautical: strong rope supporting a mast) · fi staagi (nautical: strong rope supporting a mast) · de Stag (nautical: strong rope supporting a mast) · ca estai (nautical: strong rope supporting a mast) · eo stajo (nautical: strong rope supporting a mast) · it tirante (nautical: strong rope supporting a mast) · de Stütze (guy, rope, or wire supporting a structural element) · it strallo (guy, rope, or wire supporting a structural element) · mi pūrengi (nautical: strong rope supporting a mast) · bg щаг (nautical: strong rope supporting a mast) · mi pūwhenua (nautical: strong rope supporting a mast) · pt estai (nautical: strong rope supporting a mast) · de Stehbolzen (transverse piece in a chain-cable link) · pt estai (guy, rope, or wire supporting a structural element) · it strallo (nautical: strong rope supporting a mast)
From Middle English stay, from Old English stæġ (“stay, a rope supporting a mast”), from Proto-West Germanic *stag, from Proto-Germanic *stagą (“stay, rope”), from Proto-Indo-European *stek-, *stāk- (“stand, pole”), from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand”). Cognate with Dutch stag (“stay”), German Stag (“stay”), Swedish stag (“stay”), Icelandic stag (“stay”).
Meanings
To brace or support with a stay or stays
stay a mast
(transitive) To incline forward, aft, or to one side by means of stays.
(transitive) To tack; put on the other tack.
to stay ship
(intransitive) To change; tack; go about; be in stays, as a ship.
From Middle English *steȝe, from Old English *stǣġe, an apocopated variant of stǣġel (“steep, abrupt”), from Proto-West Germanic *staigil (“steep”), see sty.
Meanings
(UK, dialectal) Steep; ascending.
The Castle of Edr. is naturally a great strenth situate upon the top of a high Rock perpendicular on all sides, except on the entry from the burgh, which is a stay ascent and is well fortified with strong Walls, three gates each one within another, with Drawbridges, and all necessary fortifications. 1908, Publications of the Scottish History Society, volume 53, page 121:
(UK, dialectal) (of a roof) Steeply pitched.
(UK, dialectal) Difficult to negotiate; not easy to access; sheer.
From Middle English *steȝe, from Old English *stǣġe, an apocopated variant of stǣġel (“steep, abrupt”), from Proto-West Germanic *staigil (“steep”), see sty.