Stay

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Stay, n. [AS. stæg, akin to D., G., Icel., Sw., & Dan. stag; cf. OF. estai, F. étai, of Teutonic origin.].

 A large, strong rope, employed to support a mast, by being extended from the head of one mast down to some other, or to some part of the vessel. Those which lead forward are called fore-and-aft stays; those which lead to the vessel's side are called backstays. See Illust. of Ship.  [1913 Webster]

In stays, Hove in stays (Naut.), in the act or situation of staying, or going about from one tack to another. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Stay holes (Naut.), openings in the edge of a staysail through which the hanks pass which join it to the stay. -- Stay tackle (Naut.), a tackle attached to a stay and used for hoisting or lowering heavy articles over the side. -- To miss stays (Naut.), to fail in the attempt to go about. Totten. -- Triatic stay (Naut.), a rope secured at the ends to the heads of the foremast and mainmast with thimbles spliced to its bight into which the stay tackles hook.

Stay, v. t. [OF. estayer, F. étayer to prop, fr. OF. estai, F. étai, a prop, probably fr. OD. stade, staeye, a prop, akin to E. stead; or cf. stay a rope to support a mast. Cf. Staid, a., Stay, v. i.].

•  To stop from motion or falling; to prop; to fix firmly; to hold up; to support.  [1913 Webster]

  "Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side."  [1913 Webster]

  "Sallows and reeds . . . for vineyards useful found
  To stay thy vines."  [1913 Webster]
•  To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.  [1913 Webster]

  "He has devoured a whole loaf of bread and butter, and it has not staid his stomach for a minute."  [1913 Webster]
•  To bear up under; to endure; to support; to resist successfully.  [1913 Webster]

  "She will not stay the siege of loving terms,
  Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes."  [1913 Webster]
•  To hold from proceeding; to withhold; to restrain; to stop; to hold.  [1913 Webster]

  "Him backward overthrew and down him stayed
  With their rude hands and grisly grapplement."  [1913 Webster]

  "All that may stay their minds from thinking that true which they heartily wish were false."  [1913 Webster]
•  To hinder; to delay; to detain; to keep back.  [1913 Webster]

  "Your ships are stayed at Venice."  [1913 Webster]

  "This business staid me in London almost a week."  [1913 Webster]

  "I was willing to stay my reader on an argument that appeared to me new."  [1913 Webster]
•  To remain for the purpose of; to wait for.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  To cause to cease; to put an end to.  [1913 Webster]

  "Stay your strife."  [1913 Webster]

  "For flattering planets seemed to say
  This child should ills of ages stay."  [1913 Webster]
•  To fasten or secure with stays; as, to stay a flat sheet in a steam boiler.  [1913 Webster]
•  To tack, as a vessel, so that the other side of the vessel shall be presented to the wind.  [1913 Webster]

To stay a mast (Naut.), to incline it forward or aft, or to one side, by the stays and backstays.

Stay, v. i. [√163. See Stay to hold up, prop.].

•  To remain; to continue in a place; to abide fixed for a space of time; to stop; to stand still.  [1913 Webster]

  "She would command the hasty sun to stay."  [1913 Webster]

  "Stay, I command you; stay and hear me first."  [1913 Webster]

  "I stay a little longer, as one stays
  To cover up the embers that still burn."  [1913 Webster]
•  To continue in a state.  [1913 Webster]

  "The flames augment, and stay
  At their full height, then languish to decay."  [1913 Webster]
•  To wait; to attend; to forbear to act.  [1913 Webster]

  "I 'll tell thee all my whole device
  When I am in my coach, which stays for us."  [1913 Webster]

  "The father can not stay any longer for the fortune."  [1913 Webster]
•  To dwell; to tarry; to linger.  [1913 Webster]

  "I must stay a little on one action."  [1913 Webster]
•  To rest; to depend; to rely; to stand; to insist.  [1913 Webster]

  "I stay here on my bond."  [1913 Webster]

  "Ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon."  [1913 Webster]
•  To come to an end; to cease; as, that day the storm stayed.  [1913 Webster]

  "Here my commission stays."  [1913 Webster]
•  To hold out in a race or other contest; as, a horse stays well.  [1913 Webster]
•  To change tack, as a ship.  [1913 Webster]

Stay, n. [Cf. OF. estai, F. étai support, and E. stay a rope to support a mast.].

•  That which serves as a prop; a support.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]

  "Trees serve as so many stays for their vines."  [1913 Webster]

  "Lord Liverpool is the single stay of this ministry."  [1913 Webster]
•  A corset stiffened with whalebone or other material, worn by women, and rarely by men.  [1913 Webster]

  "How the strait stays the slender waist constrain."  [1913 Webster]
•  Continuance in a place; abode for a space of time; sojourn; as, you make a short stay in this city.  [1913 Webster]

  "Make haste, and leave thy business and thy care;
  No mortal interest can be worth thy stay."  [1913 Webster]

  "Embrace the hero and his stay implore."  [1913 Webster]
•  Cessation of motion or progression; stand; stop.  [1913 Webster]

  "Made of sphere metal, never to decay
  Until his revolution was at stay."  [1913 Webster]

  "Affairs of state seemed rather to stand at a stay."  [1913 Webster]
•  Hindrance; let; check.  [1913 Webster]

  "They were able to read good authors without any stay, if the book were not false."  [1913 Webster]
•  Restraint of passion; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.  Herbert.  [1913 Webster]

  "The wisdom, stay, and moderation of the king."  [1913 Webster]

  "With prudent stay he long deferred
  The rough contention."  [1913 Webster]
•  Strictly, a part in tension to hold the parts together, or stiffen them.  [1913 Webster]

Stay bolt (Mech.), a bolt or short rod, connecting opposite plates, so as to prevent them from being bulged out when acted upon by a pressure which tends to force them apart, as in the leg of a steam boiler. -- Stay busk, a stiff piece of wood, steel, or whalebone, for the front support of a woman's stays. Cf. Busk. -- Stay rod, a rod which acts as a stay, particularly in a steam boiler.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Stay, v. & n.
--v.
1 intr. continue to be in the same place or condition; not depart or change (stay here until I come back).
2 intr. a (often foll. by at, in, with) have temporary residence as a visitor etc. (stayed with them for Christmas). b Sc. & S.Afr. dwell permanently.
3 archaic or literary a tr. stop or check (progress, the inroads of a disease, etc.). b intr. (esp. in imper.) pause in movement, action, speech, etc. (Stay! You forget one thing).
4 tr. postpone (judgement, decision, etc.).
5 tr. assuage (hunger etc.) esp. for a short time.
6 a intr. show endurance. b tr. show endurance to the end of (a race etc.).
7 tr. (often foll. by up) literary support, prop up (as or with a buttress etc.).
8 intr. (foll. by for, to) wait long enough to share or join in an activity etc. (stay to supper; stay for the film).
--n.
1 a the act or an instance of staying or dwelling in one place. b the duration of this (just a ten-minute stay; a long stay in London).
2 a suspension or postponement of a sentence, judgement, etc. (was granted a stay of execution).
3 archaic or literary a check or restraint (will endure no stay; a stay upon his activity).
4 endurance, staying power.
5 a prop or support.
6 (in pl.) hist. a corset esp. with whalebone etc. stiffening, and laced.

Idiom

has come (or is here) to stay colloq. must be regarded as permanent. stay-at-home adj. remaining habitually at home.
--n. a person who does this. stay-bar (or -rod) a support used in building or in machinery. stay the course pursue a course of action or endure a struggle etc. to the end. stay one's hand see HAND. stay in remain indoors or at home, esp. in school after hours as a punishment. staying power endurance, stamina. stay-in strike = sit-down strike. stay the night remain until the next day. stay put colloq. remain where it is placed or where one is. stay up not go to bed (until late at night).

Derivative

stayer n.

Stay, n. & v.
--n.
1 Naut. a rope or guy supporting a mast, spar, flagstaff, etc.
2 a tie-piece in an aircraft etc.
--v.tr.
1 support (a mast etc.) by stays.
2 put (a ship) on another tack.

Idiom

be in stays (of a sailing ship) be head to the wind while tacking. miss stays fail to be in stays.

Etymology

OE st{aelig}g be firm, f. Gmc

THESAURUS

Stay

abandon, abeyance, abide, abort, adhere, adjourn, advocate, afford support, afterthought, agglomerate, alpenstock, amnesty, anchor, arm, arrest, arrestation, athletic supporter, await, back, back up, backbone, backing, backpedal, backwater, bandeau, bar, be still, bear, bear up, bearer, bearing rein, belay, bell, berth, bide, bide the issue, billet at, bind, bit, bivouac, block, block up, blockade, blockage, bolster, bolster up, bottom, bra, brace, bracer, bracket, brake, brassiere, break, breath, breather, breathing place, breathing space, breathing spell, breathing time, bring to, bring up short, bunch, bung, bunk, buoy up, bureaucratic delay, burrow, buttress, cable, caesura, camp, cancel, cane, carrier, carry, carry on, caulk, cease, cease not, cease-fire, cervix, chain, check, checkmate, checkrein, chink, chock, choke, choke off, choke up, cigarette break, clasp, cleave, clinch, cling, cling to, clip the wings, clog, clog up, clot, cluster, coagulate, coast, cocktail hour, coffee break, cohabit, cohere, colonize, column, come to anchor, confine, congeal, congest, conglomerate, constipate, continue, continue to be, cork, corselet, corset, countercheck, cover, cradle, crook, crutch, curb, curb bit, cushion, cut it out, cut short, cutoff, dally, dam, dam up, damper, dawdle, day off, dead stop, deadlock, debarment, decelerate, defeat time, defer, deferment, deferral, defy time, delay, delayage, delayed reaction, desist, detain, detention, deter, determent, deterrence, dillydally, discontinuance, discontinuation, discontinue, discourage, discouragement, domesticate, domicile, domiciliate, doorstop, doss down, double take, downtime, drag, drag on, drag out, drag sail, dragging, draw rein, drift anchor, drift sail, drogue, drop, drop anchor, drop it, dwell, ease off, ease up, embrace, end, endgame, ending, endure, enforced respite, ensconce, establish, establish residence, estoppel, exemption, exist, extend, fetter, fill, fill up, final whistle, foil, forbiddance, foreclosure, forestalling, forestay, foul, found, foundation garment, freeze, freeze to, fulcrum, full stop, gird, girdle, give over, give support, go along, go on, grasp, grinding halt, ground, grow together, gun, guy, guywire, halt, hamper, hang, hang about, hang around, hang fire, hang on, hang out, hang together, hang up, hang-up, happy hour, have done with, hesitation, hinder, hindrance, hive, hold, hold back, hold everything, hold in check, hold off, hold on, hold out, hold over, hold steady, hold together, hold up, hold your horses, holdback, holdup, holiday, hug, immunity, impede, impunity, indemnity, inhabit, interim, interlude, intermezzo, intermission, intermittence, interrupt, interruption, interval, jam, jock, jockstrap, jog on, keep, keep afloat, keep back, keep going, keep house, keep on, keep quiet, keep up, knock it off, lag, lagging, lapse, last, last long, last out, lay aside, lay by, lay off, lay over, layoff, layover, leave off, lend support, let down, let up, letup, lie still, line, linger, live, live at, live on, live through, locate, lockout, lodge, logjam, loiter, lose ground, lose momentum, lose speed, lull, mainstay, maintain, maintainer, make late, mark time, martingale, mass, mast, moderate, moor, moratorium, move, neck, nest, never cease, nolle prosequi, non prosequitur, nonprosecution, not breathe, not stir, obstipate, obstruct, obstruction, obviation, occupy, pack, paperasserie, park, pause, pelham, people, perch, perdure, perennate, persist, pigeonhole, pillow, plug, plug up, populate, postpone, postponement, preclusion, predicate, prevail, prevent, prevention, procrastinate, prohibition, prolong, prop, prorogate, prorogue, protract, pull up, push aside, put aside, put off, put on ice, put paid to, quit, recess, red tape, red-tapeism, red-tapery, reef, refrain, rein in, reinforce, reinforcement, reinforcer, relax, relinquish, relocate, remain, remain motionless, remission, remora, renounce, repose, reprieve, reserve, reside, respite, rest, resting place, retard, retardance, retardation, rigging, room, roost, rope, run, run on, scotch, scrub, sea anchor, secure, set, set aside, set back, set by, set up housekeeping, set up shop, settle, settle down, shackle, shelve, shift off, shore, shore up, shoulder, shroud, sit down, sit tight, sit up, sit up for, sit-down strike, slack off, slack up, slacken, sleep on, slog on, slow, slow down, slow up, slow-up, slowdown, slowness, snaffle, sojourn, sojournment, solidify, spell, spile, spine, spoke, sprit, squat, staff, stagger on, stalemate, stall, stanch, stand, stand fast, stand firm, stand over, stand still, stand-down, standing rigging, standoff, standstill, stave, stave off, stay at, stay of execution, stay on, stay over, stay put, stay up, stay up for, stayover, stays, stem, stem the tide, stench, stick, stick around, stick fast, stick together, stiffener, stillstand, stop, stop cold, stop dead, stop over, stop short, stop up, stop-off, stopover, stoppage, stopper, stopping, stopple, strengthen, strengthener, stretch out, strike, strike root, stuff, stuff up, stymie, subsidize, subsist, subvention, support, supporter, surcease, survive, suspend, suspension, sustain, sustainer, sweat, sweat it out, sweat out, table, take a recess, take hold of, take in sail, take residence at, take root, take time, take up residence, tarry, tea break, tenant, terminate, throttle down, thwart, tide over, tie-up, time lag, time out, trammel, tread water, truce, underbrace, undergird, underlie, underpin, underpinning, underset, upbear, uphold, upholder, upkeep, vacation, visit, wait, wait a minute, wait and see, wait for, wait on, wait up for, waive, walking stick, walkout, watch, watch and wait, wear, work stoppage

ROGET THESAURUS

Stay

Existence

VB exist, be, have being, subsist, live, breathe, stand, obtain, be the case, occur, have place, prevail, find oneself, pass the time, vegetate, consist in, lie in, be comprised in, be contained in, be constituted by, come into existence, arise, come forth, become, bring into existence, abide, continue, endure, last, remain, stay.

Repose

N repose, rest, silken repose, sleep, relaxation, breathing time, halt, stay, pause, respite, day of rest, dies non, Sabbath, Lord's day, holiday, red-letter day, vacation, recess, reposing, relaxed, unstrained, unstressed, at rest, The best of men have ever loved repose, to repair our nature with comforting repose.

Hindrance

N hindrance, prevention, preclusion, obstruction, stoppage, embolus, embolism, infarct, interruption, interception, interclusion, hindrance, impedition, retardment, retardation, embarrassment, oppilation, coarctation, stricture, restriction, restraint, inhibition, blockade, interference, interposition, obtrusion, discouragement, discountenance, impediment, let, obstacle, obstruction, knot, knag, check, hitch, contretemps, screw loose, grit in the oil, bar, stile, barrier, turnstile, turnpike, gate, portcullis, beaver dam, trocha, barricade, wall, dead wall, sea wall, levee breakwater, groyne, bulkhead, block, buffer, stopper, boom, dam, weir, burrock, drawback, objection, stumbling-block, stumbling-stone, lion in the path, snag, snags and sawyers, encumbrance, incumbrance, clog, skid, shoe, spoke, drag, drag chain, drag weight, stay, stop, preventive, prophylactic, load, burden, fardel, onus, millstone round one's neck, impedimenta, dead weight, lumber, pack, nightmare, Ephialtes, incubus, old man of the sea, remora, difficulty, insuperable, obstacle, estoppel, ill wind, head wind, trammel, tether, hold back, counterpoise, damper, wet blanket, hinderer, marplot, killjoy, party pooper, party crasher, interloper, trail of a red herring, opponent, hindering, obstructive, obstruent, impeditive, impedient, intercipient, prophylactic, impedimentary, in the way of, unfavorable, onerous, burdensome, cumbrous, cumbersome, obtrusive, hindered, windbound, waterlogged, heavy laden, hard pressed, unassisted &c (assist), single-handed, alone, deserted, occurrent nubes.

VB hinder, impede, filibuster, impedite, embarrass, keep off, stave off, ward off, obviate, avert, antevert, turn aside, draw off, prevent, forefend, nip in the bud, retard, slacken, check, let, counteract, countercheck, preclude, debar, foreclose, estop, inhibit, shackle, restrict, obstruct, stop, stay, bar, bolt, lock, block, block up, choke off, belay, barricade, block the way, bar the way, stop the way, forelay, dam up, put on the brake, scotch the wheel, lock the wheel, put a spoke in the wheel, put a stop to, traverse, contravene, interrupt, intercept, oppose, hedge in, hedge round, cut off, inerclude, interpose, interfere, intermeddle, cramp, hamper, clog, clog the wheels, cumber, encumber, incumber, handicap, choke, saddle with, load with, overload, lay, lumber, trammel, tie one's hands, put to inconvenience, incommode, discommode, discompose, hustle, corner, drive into a corner, run foul of, fall foul of, cross the path of, break in upon, thwart, frustrate, disconcert, balk, foil, faze, feaze, feeze, baffle, snub, override, circumvent, defeat, spike guns, spoil, mar, clip the wings of, cripple, put an extinguisher on, damp, dishearten, discountenance, throw cold water on, spoil sport, lay a wet blanket, throw a wet blanket on, cut the ground from under one, take the wind out of one's sails, undermine, be in the way of, stand in the way of, act as a drag, hang like a millstone round one's neck.

Lateness

VB be late, tarry, wait, stay, bide, take time, dawdle, linger, loiter, bide one's time, take one's time, gain time, hang fire, stand over, lie over, put off, defer, delay, lay over, suspend, table, shift off, stave off, waive, retard, remand, postpone, adjourn, procrastinate, dally, prolong, protract, spin out, draw out, lengthen out, stretch out, prorogue, keep back, tide over, push to the last, drive to the last, let the matter stand over, reserve, temporize, consult one's pillow, sleep on it, lose an opportunity, be kept waiting, dance attendance, kick one's heels, cool one's heels, faire antichambre, wait impatiently, await, sit up, sit up at night.

Permanence

VB let alone, let be, let it be, persist, remain, stay, tarry, rest, stet (copy editing) hold, hold on, last, endure, bide, abide, aby, dwell, maintain, keep, stand, stand still, stand fast, subsist, live, outlive, survive, hold one's ground, keep one's ground, hold one's footing, keep one's footing, hold good.

Cessation

VB cease, discontinue, desist, stay, halt, break off, leave off, hold, stop, pull up, stop short, stick, hang fire, halt, pause, rest, burn out, blow out, melt down, have done with, give over, surcease, shut up shop, give up, hold one's hand, stay one's hand, rest on one's oars repose on one's laurels, come to a stand, come to a standstill, come to a deadlock, come to a full stop, arrive, go out, die away, wear away, wear off, pass away, be at an end, disintegrate, self-destruct, intromit, interrupt, suspend, interpel, intermit, remit, put an end to, put a stop to, put a period to, derail, turn off, switch off, power down, deactivate, disconnect, bring to a stand, bring to a standstill, stop, cut short, arrest, stem the tide, stem the torrent, pull the check-string, pull the plug on, Int, hold!, stop!, enough!, avast!, have done!, a truce to!, soft!, leave off!, tenez!.

Presence

VB exist in space, be present, assister, make one of, make one at, look on, attend, remain, find oneself, present oneself, show one's face, fall in the way of, occur in a place, lie, stand, occupy, be there, people, inhabit, dwell, reside, stay, sojourn, live, abide, lodge, nestle, roost, perch, take up one's abode, tenant, resort to, frequent, haunt, revisit, fill, pervade, permeate, be diffused, be disseminated, be through, over spread, overrun, run through, meet one at every turn.

Support

N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.

Quiescence

VB be quiescent, stand still, lie still, keep quiet, repose, hold the breath, remain, stay, stand, lie to, ride at anchor, remain in situ, tarry, mark time, bring to, heave to, lay to, pull up, draw up, hold, halt, stop, stop short, rest, pause, anchor, cast to an anchor, come to an anchor, rest on one's oars, repose on one's laurels, take breath, stop, stagnate, quieta non movere, let alone, abide, rest and be thankful, keep within doors, stay at home, go to bed, dwell, settle, alight, stick, stick fast, stand like a post, not stir a peg, not stir a step, be at a stand, quell, becalm, hush, stay, lull to sleep, lay an embargo on, be quiescent, stand still, lie still, keep quiet, repose, hold the breath, remain, stay, stand, lie to, ride at anchor, remain in situ, tarry, mark time, bring to, heave to, lay to, pull up, draw up, hold, halt, stop, stop short, rest, pause, anchor, cast to an anchor, come to an anchor, rest on one's oars, repose on one's laurels, take breath, stop, stagnate, quieta non movere, let alone, abide, rest and be thankful, keep within doors, stay at home, go to bed, dwell, settle, alight, stick, stick fast, stand like a post, not stir a peg, not stir a step, be at a stand, quell, becalm, hush, stay, lull to sleep, lay an embargo on.