stay1
¦ verb
1. remain in the same place.
(stay on) continue to study, work, or be somewhere after others have left.
(stay over) stay for the night at someone's home or a hotel.
(stay up) not go to bed.
2. remain in a specified state or position.
(stay with) continue, persevere, or keep up with (an activity or person).
3. live somewhere temporarily as a visitor or guest.
Scottish & S. African live permanently.
4. stop, delay, or prevent, in particular suspend or postpone (judicial proceedings) or refrain from pressing (charges).
assuage (hunger) for a short time.
5. literary support or prop up.
¦ noun
1. a period of staying somewhere.
2. a curb or check, especially a suspension or postponement of judicial proceedings.
3. a device used as a brace or support.
4. (stays) historical a corset made of two pieces laced together and stiffened by strips of whalebone.
Phrases
stay the course (or distance) keep going to the end of a race or contest.
?pursue a difficult task or activity to the end.
a stay of execution a delay in carrying out a court order.
stay put remain somewhere without moving.
Derivatives
stayer noun
Origin
ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr. estai-, stem of OFr. ester, from L. stare 'to stand'; in the sense 'support', partly from OFr. estaye (n.), estayer (v.), of Gmc origin.
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stay2
¦ noun
1. a large rope, wire, or rod used to support a ship's mast.
2. a guy or rope supporting a flagstaff or other upright pole.
3. a supporting wire or cable on an aircraft.
¦ verb secure or steady by means of a stay.
Phrases
be in stays (of a sailing ship) be head to the wind while tacking.
miss stays (of a sailing ship) fail in an attempt to go about from one tack to another.
Origin
OE st?g, of Gmc origin, from a base meaning 'be firm'.