stay
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: enpr: stā
ipa: /steɪ/
rhymes: -eɪ
Forms: form: stays
Etymology: 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.
Senses: examples: text: I hope you enjoyed your stay in Hawaii.
synonyms: sojourn
glosses: Continuance or a period of time spent in a place; abode for an indefinite time.
examples: text: The governor granted a stay of execution.
text: Later that day, however, Judge O'Kelley signed a stay of execution when Mr. Potts authorized other attorneys to renew his appeals.
ref: 1980 June 25, “A.C.L.U. Seeks to Stay Execution of Georgian”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
text: 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.
ref: 1988 August 20, Jennie McKnight, “'Free Sharon Kowalski Day' Events Draw National Attention”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 6, page 10:
text: 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.
ref: 2014 January 21, Matthew Goldstein, “Apple Wins Temporary Stay on Court Monitor”, in New York Times:
topics: law
glosses: A postponement, especially of an execution or other punishment.
examples: text: stand at a stay
text: Made of ſphear-metal, never to decay / Untill his revolution was at ſtay.
ref: 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:
text: Affaires of state […] seemed rather to stand at a stay.
ref: 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:
glosses: A stop; a halt; a break or cessation of action, motion, or progress.
glosses: A fixed state; fixedness; stability; permanence.
topics: nautical
transport
glosses: A station or fixed anchorage for vessels.
examples: text: The wisdom, stay, and moderation of the king.
ref: 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:
text: Not grudging that thy lust hath bounds and stays.
ref: 1633, George Herbert, The Church Porch:
text: With prudent stay he long deferred / The rough contention.
ref: 1705, John Philips, Blenheim:
glosses: Restraint of passion; prudence; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.
examples: text: They were able to read good authors without any stay, if the book were not false.
ref: 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:
glosses: Hindrance; let; check.
Derived terms: gay for the stay
stay time
staycation