stay
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: enpr: stā
ipa: /steɪ/
rhymes: -eɪ
Forms: form: stays
form: staying
form: stayed
form: stayed
form: staid
form: staid
form: no-table-tags
form: glossary
form: stay
form: stay
form: stayed
form: stay
form: stayest
form: stayed
form: stayedst
form: stays
form: stayeth
form: stayed
form: stay
form: stayed
form: stay
form: stayed
form: stay
form: -
form: staying
form: stayed
form: staid
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: We stayed in Hawaii for a week.  I can only stay for an hour.
text: She would commaund the hasty Sunne to stay,
Or backward turne his course from heuen's hight,
ref: 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 140:
text: Stay, I command you; stay and hear me first,
ref: 1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act IV, page 60:
text: 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.
text: “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.
ref: 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter V, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
glosses: To remain in a particular place, especially for a definite or short period of time; sojourn; abide.
examples: text: Wear gloves so your hands stay warm.
text: Promise me you'll always stay/remain my little prince.
text: For as the Flames augment, and as they stay / At their full Height, then languish to decay, / They rise, and sink by Fits […]
ref: 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:
text: 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.
ref: 1869, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, chapter XXX, in Little Women: […], 2nd part, Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC:
text: The three men in the room stayed motionless, holding their breaths.
ref: 1943, Graham Greene, The Ministry of Fear, London: Heinemann, published 1960, Book 3, Chapter 2, p. 210:
text: 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.
ref: 2013 June 21, Oliver Burkeman, “The tao of tech”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 27:
glosses: To continue to have a particular quality.
examples: text: 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:
ref: 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]:
text: 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.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 17:12:
text: 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.
ref: 1677, Hannah Woolley, “Directions for Writing the most Vsual and Legible Hands for Women”, in The Compleat Servant-Maid, London: T. Passinger, page 17:
text: Sallows and Reeds, on Banks of Rivers born,
Remain to cut; for Vineyards useful found,
To stay thy Vines and fence thy fruitful Ground.
ref: 1725, John Dryden, transl., Virgil’s Husbandry, or an Essay on the Georgics, London, Book 2, p. 37:
glosses: To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.
examples: text: […] 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 […]
ref: 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:
glosses: To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.
examples: text: Your ships are stay’d at Venice.
ref: 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]:
text: 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 […]
text: […] I was willing to stay my Reader on an Argument, that appears to me new […]
ref: 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:
text: 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.
ref: 1859, Charles Dickens, chapter 6, in A Tale of Two Cities, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC:
text: […] 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 […]
ref: 1925, Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, published 1985, page 44:
text: She rose to leave but Libor stayed her.
ref: 2010, Howard Jacobson, chapter 9, in The Finkler Question, New York: Bloomsbury:
glosses: To stop or delay something.
To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder.
examples: text: 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 […]
text: So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Samuel 24:7:
text: 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.
text: 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.
ref: 1905, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], The Gods of Pegāna, London: [Charles] Elkin Mathews, […], →OCLC, page 23:
glosses: To stop or delay something.
To restrain; withhold; check; stop.
examples: text: Now stay your strife […]
ref: 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]:
text: For flattering planets seemed to say
This child should ills of ages stay,
ref: 1847, Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Threnody”, in Poems, Boston: James Munroe, page 242:
glosses: To stop or delay something.
To cause to cease; to put an end to.
examples: text: The governor stayed the execution until the appeal could be heard.
text: Without one word to deny himself, Yuan let himself be bound, his hands behind his back, and no one could stay the matter.
ref: 1935, Pearl S. Buck, A House Divided, London: Methuen, Part 1, p. 137:
text: 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 […]
ref: 2001, Richard Flanagan, “The Leatherjacket”, in Gould’s Book of Fish, New York: Grove, pages 187–188:
glosses: To stop or delay something.
To put off; defer; postpone; delay; keep back.
glosses: To hold the attention of.
examples: text: She will not stay the siege of loving terms,
Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes,
ref: 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]:
glosses: To bear up under; to endure; to hold out against; to resist.
examples: text: My father stays my coming;
ref: 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]:
text: Let me stay the growth of his beard,
ref: 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]:
glosses: To wait for; await.
examples: text: I stay dinner there.
ref: 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]:
text: Some of the company staid supper, which prevented the embarrassment that must unavoidably have arisen, had the family been by themselves.
ref: 1791, Elizabeth Inchbald, A Simple Story, Oxford, published 2009, page 177:
text: 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 […]
ref: 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:
glosses: To remain for the purpose of; to stay to take part in or be present at (a meal, ceremony etc.).
examples: text: Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 30:12:
text: I stay here on my bond.
ref: 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]:
glosses: To rest; depend; rely.
glosses: To stop; come to a stand or standstill.
examples: text: That day the storm stayed.
text: Here my commission stays,
ref: 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]:
glosses: To come to an end; cease.
examples: text: 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.
ref: 1700, John Dryden, Fables Ancient and Modern, London: Jacob Tonson, dedicatory epistle:
glosses: To dwell; linger; tarry; wait.
glosses: To make a stand; to stand firm.
examples: text: That horse stays well.
glosses: To hold out, as in a race or contest; last or persevere to the end; to show staying power.
examples: text: I’ll tell thee all my whole device / When I am in my coach, which stays for us.
ref: 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]:
text: The Father cannot stay any longer for the Portion, nor the Mother for a new Sett of Babies to play with […]
ref: 1693, [John Locke], “(please specify the section number)”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC, page 260:
glosses: To wait; rest in patience or expectation.
examples: text: I have a servant comes with me along,
That stays upon me […]
ref: 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]:
text: Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure.
ref: 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]:
glosses: To wait as an attendant; give ceremonious or submissive attendance.
raw_tags: used with on or upon
examples: text: Hey, where do you stay at?
qualifier: African-American Vernacular
glosses: To live; reside.
Synonyms: sense: prop, support, sustain
word: bear
sense: prop, support, sustain
word: prop up
sense: prop, support, sustain
word: uphold
sense: restrain; withhold; check
word: curb
word: repress
word: stifle
sense: cause to cease
word: cancel
word: cease
word: discontinue
word: halt
word: stop
word: terminate
sense: bear up under
word: endure
word: resist
sense: wait for
word: await
word: wait for
word: wait on
sense: come to a stand or standstill
word: blin
word: brake
word: desist
sense: come to an end
word: cease
word: end
sense: make a stand
word: contend
sense: make a stand
word: break a lance
sense: make a stand
word: stand firm
sense: make a stand
word: take a stand
sense: remain in a particular place
word: abide
word: sojourn
sense: rest in patience or expectation
word: wait
sense: wait as an attendant
word: attend
word: bestand
word: serve
sense: continue to have a particular quality
word: continue
word: keep
word: remain
Derived terms: sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: bestay
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: forestay
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: forstay
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: gainstay
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: here to stay
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: offstay
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: onstay
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: outstay
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: overstay
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: pay to stay
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: pay-to-stay
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: sell in May and stay away
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay and play
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay-at-home
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stayaway
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay-away
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay away
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay behind
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay-button
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay-dry
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stayer
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay hungry
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay loose
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay on
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay one's hand
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay over
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay put
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay-stomach
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay the course
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay the distance
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay the night
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay together
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay tuned
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay up
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay up late
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: stay within the lines
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: the family that lays together stays together
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: the family that prays together stays together
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: the more things change, the more they stay the same
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: time and tide stay for no man
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: understay
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: unstay
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: unstayed
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: upstay
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: what happens on the road stays on the road
sense: Terms derived from stay (verb)
word: what happens on tour stays on tour
Related terms: abide
belive
continue
dwell
live
remain
reside
tarry