stay

¹

[ stey ]

verb (used without object)

, stayed or staid, stay·ing.

1. to spend some time in a place, in a situation, with a person or group, etc.:

   He stayed in the army for ten years.

2. to continue to be as specified, as to condition or state:

   to stay clean.

3. to hold out or endure, as in a contest or task (followed by with or at ):

   Please stay with the project as long as you can.

4. to keep up, as with a competitor (followed by with ).
5. Poker. to continue in a hand by matching an ante, bet, or raise.
6. to stop or halt.
7. to pause or wait, as for a moment, before proceeding or continuing; linger or tarry.
8. Archaic. to cease or desist.
9. Archaic. to stand firm.

verb (used with object)

, stayed or staid, stay·ing.

1. to stop or halt.
2. to hold back, detain, or restrain, as from going further.
3. to suspend or delay (actions, proceedings, etc.).
4. to appease or satisfy temporarily the cravings of (the stomach, appetite, etc.).
5. to remain through or during (a period of time):

   We stayed two days in San Francisco.

6. to remain to the end of; remain beyond (usually followed by out ).
7. Archaic. to await.

noun

1. the act of stopping or being stopped.
2. a stop, halt, or pause; a standstill.
3. a sojourn or temporary residence:

   a week's stay in Miami.

4. Law. a stoppage or arrest of action; suspension of a judicial proceeding:

   The governor granted a stay of execution.

5. Informal. staying power; endurance.

stay

²

[ stey ]

noun

1. something used to support or steady a thing; prop; brace.
2. a flat strip of steel, plastic, etc., used especially for stiffening corsets, collars, etc.
3. a long rod running between opposite walls, heads or sides of a furnace, boiler, tank, or the like, to strengthen them against internal pressures.
4. stays, Chiefly British. a corset.

verb (used with object)

, stayed, stay·ing.

1. to support, prop, or hold up (sometimes followed by up ).
2. to sustain or strengthen mentally or spiritually.
3. to rest on (something, as a foundation or base) for support.
4. to cause something to become fixed or to rest on (a support, foundation, base, etc.)

stay

³

[ stey ]

noun

1. any of various strong ropes or wires for steadying masts, funnels, etc.

verb (used with object)

, stayed, stay·ing.

1. to support or secure with a stay or stays:

   to stay a mast.

2. to put (a ship) on the other tack.

verb (used without object)

, stayed, stay·ing.

1. (of a ship) to change to the other tack.

stay

¹

/ steɪ /

verb

1. intr to continue or remain in a certain place, position, etc

   to stay outside

2. copula to continue to be; remain

   to stay awake

3. introften foll byat to reside temporarily, esp as a guest

   to stay at a hotel

4. tr to remain for a specified period

   to stay the weekend

5. intr to reside permanently or habitually; live
6. archaic.
   to stop or cause to stop
7. intr to wait, pause, or tarry
8. tr to delay or hinder
9. tr
   1. to discontinue or suspend (a judicial proceeding)
   2. to hold in abeyance or restrain from enforcing (an order, decree, etc)
10. to endure (something testing or difficult, such as a race)

    a horse that stays the course

11. intr; usually foll bywith to keep pace (with a competitor in a race, etc)
12. intr poker to raise one's stakes enough to stay in a round
13. tr to hold back or restrain

    to stay one's anger

14. tr to satisfy or appease (an appetite, etc) temporarily
15. archaic.
    tr to quell or suppress
16. archaic.
    intr to stand firm
17. stay put
    See put

noun

1. the act of staying or sojourning in a place or the period during which one stays
2. the act of stopping or restraining or state of being stopped, etc
3. the suspension of a judicial proceeding, etc

   stay of execution

stay

²

/ steɪ /

noun

1. a rope, cable, or chain, usually one of a set, used for bracing uprights, such as masts, funnels, flagpoles, chimneys, etc; guy See also stays stays

stay

³

/ steɪ /

noun

1. anything that supports or steadies, such as a prop or buttress
2. a thin strip of metal, plastic, bone, etc, used to stiffen corsets, etc

verb

1. often foll by up to prop or hold
2. often foll by up to comfort or sustain
3. foll byon or upon to cause to rely or depend

Word History and Origins

Origin of stay¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English staien, from Anglo-French estaier, Old French ester, from Latin stāre “to stand, stand up, be standing, stand in attendance”; stand

Origin of stay²

First recorded in 1505–15; apparently same as stay ³ (compare Old French estayer “to hold in place, support”), or perhaps derivative of Middle English steye “rope to steady a mast”; stay ³

Origin of stay³

First recorded before 1150; Middle English stai, stey(e), Old English stæg; cognate with German Stag, Dutch stag, Old Norse stag

Word History and Origins

Origin of stay¹

C15 staien , from Anglo-French estaier , to stay, from Old French ester to stay, from Latin stāre to stand

Origin of stay²

Old English stæg ; related to Old Norse stag , Middle Low German stach , Norwegian stagle wooden post

Origin of stay³

C16: from Old French estaye , of Germanic origin; compare stay ³

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in stays, (of a fore-and-aft-rigged vessel) heading into the wind with sails shaking, as in coming about.
2. stay the course, to persevere; endure to completion.

More idioms and phrases containing stay

• here to stay
• (stay) in touch
• (stay on one's) right side
• should have stood (stayed) in bed
• stick (stay) with

Example Sentences

Though she shows promise in the field of sorcery from a young age, the color of Elphaba’s skin ensures that she stays a pariah barred from studying her powers.

From Salon

Despite their recent run and speculation about the Spaniard's future, however, Guardiola this week agreed a new one-year deal to extend his stay at Etihad Stadium to 10 years.

From BBC

She and her partner took time off work and slept in their car for two weeks to stay in the area where the dog was lost rather than returning to their home in El Sereno.

From Los Angeles Times

It found that Mrs Thompson had care plans in place which indicated she required the assistance of two carers in order to stay safe while being moved.

From BBC

They also remain in a decent position in the Champions League group stage - despite being thrashed by Sporting - but know they must regain their form quickly to stay realistic contenders on all fronts.

From BBC

Related Words

• pause
• postponement
• reprieve
• suspension