stay

Pronunciation: /steɪ/

The English word “stay” has 20 meanings listed here.

verb

To remain in a particular place, especially for a definite or short period of time; sojourn; abide.
To continue to have a particular quality.
To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.
To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.
To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder.
To restrain; withhold; check; stop.
To cause to cease; to put an end to.
To put off; defer; postpone; delay; keep back.
To hold the attention of.
To bear up under; to endure; to hold out against; to resist.
To wait for; await.
To remain for the purpose of; to stay to take part in or be present at (a meal, ceremony etc.).
To rest; depend; rely.
To stop; come to a stand or standstill.
To come to an end; cease.
To dwell; linger; tarry; wait.
To make a stand; to stand firm.
To hold out, as in a race or contest; last or persevere to the end; to show staying power.
To wait; rest in patience or expectation.
To wait as an attendant; give ceremonious or submissive attendance.

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,…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.