stay

Meaning

Verb

1. (intransitive) To remain in a particular place, especially for a definite or short period of time; sojourn; abide.
2. (copulative, intransitive) To continue to have a particular quality.
3. (transitive) To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.
4. (transitive) To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.
5. (transitive) To stop or delay something.
6. (transitive) To stop or delay something.
7. (transitive) To stop or delay something.
8. (transitive) To stop or delay something.
9. (transitive) To hold the attention of.
10. (obsolete, transitive) To bear up under; to endure; to hold out against; to resist.
11. (obsolete, transitive) To wait for; await.
12. (obsolete, transitive) To remain for the purpose of; to stay to take part in or be present at (a meal, ceremony etc.).
13. (intransitive, obsolete) To rest; depend; rely.
14. (intransitive, obsolete) To stop; come to a stand or standstill.
15. (archaic, intransitive) To come to an end; cease.
16. (archaic, intransitive) To dwell; linger; tarry; wait.
17. (dated, intransitive) To make a stand; to stand firm.
18. (intransitive) To hold out, as in a race or contest; last or persevere to the end; to show staying power.
19. (intransitive, obsolete) To wait; rest in patience or expectation.
20. (intransitive, obsolete) To wait as an attendant; give ceremonious or submissive attendance.
21. (India, Scotland, Singapore, South-Africa, Southern-US, colloquial, intransitive) To live; reside.

Noun

1. Continuance or a period of time spent in a place; abode for an indefinite time.
2. A postponement, especially of an execution or other punishment.
3. (archaic) A stop; a halt; a break or cessation of action, motion, or progress.
4. A fixed state; fixedness; stability; permanence.
5. A station or fixed anchorage for vessels.
6. Restraint of passion; prudence; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.
7. (obsolete) Hindrance; let; check.

Noun

1. A prop; a support.
2. A piece of stiff material, such as plastic or whalebone, used to stiffen a piece of clothing.
3. (in-plural) A corset.
4. (archaic) A fastening for a garment; a hook; a clasp; anything to hang another thing on.

Noun

1. A strong rope or wire supporting a mast, and leading from one masthead down to some other, or other part of the vessel.
2. A guy, rope, or wire supporting or stabilizing a platform, such as a bridge, a pole, such as a tentpole, the mast of a derrick, or other structural element.
3. The transverse piece in a chain-cable link.

Adj

1. (UK, dialectal) Steep; ascending.
2. (UK, dialectal) (of a roof) Steeply pitched.
3. (UK, dialectal) Difficult to negotiate; not easy to access; sheer.
4. (UK, dialectal) Stiff; upright; unbending; reserved; haughty; proud.

Adv

Steeply.

Synonyms

remain

live

abide

stop

🛑

reside

dwell

prop

keep

sojourn

sit

🪑

support

rest

stand

wait

be

halt

exist

lodge

residence

delay

detain

linger

tarry

visit

stay over

stay put

hold

bide

abode

postpone

stoppage

check

inhabit

persist

continue

stay on

stick

stick around

go

endure

stall

hold over

brace

arrest

residency

be located

put off

beat

put up

outride

Translations

rester

bleiben

rimanere

quedar

permanecer

restare

ficar

stare

quedarse

demeurer

permanecer

séjour

blijven

Aufenthalt

soggiorno

Pronounced as (IPA)

/steɪ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: steyen

Cognate with Middle Dutch: staeyen

Cognate with Old English: stæġ

Cognate with Old English: stede

Cognate with Swedish: stödja

Cognate with Icelandic: stöðug

Cognate with Old French: ester

Cognate with Latin: stāre

Cognate with Old English: staca

Cognate with Old English: stician

Inherited from Middle English: stay

Inherited from Old English: stæġ

Cognate with Dutch: stag

Cognate with German: Stag

Cognate with Swedish: stag

Cognate with Icelandic: stag

Inherited from Middle English: *steȝe

Inherited from Old English: *stǣġe

In summary

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.

Sentences

This time , however , their top flight stay lasted only one season .