stay English · revision 2501

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /steɪ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|to remain}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1440 (Promptorium Parvulorum)|origins=ine-pro *stā-}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb “to remain” is [[inh|enm|steyen]], [[bor|xno|estai-]], a stem of Old French [[m|fro|ester|t=to stand, stay]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[la|stāre|t=to stand]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*stā-|t=to stand, make or be firm]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) It is related to [[stand]], [[state]] and [[staid]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To halt, come to a stop: 1440, in the ''Promptorium Parvulorum''.^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline also gives the mid-15th century for “to detain, hold back”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The legal sense “to postpone, suspend” is from the 1520s.^(Etymonline)^(HTOED) The meaning “to remain”, rather than go away, is recorded from the 1570s,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) though a surname of the late 14th century suggests it earlier.^(Etymonline) “To live somewhere as a guest” is from the 1550s, and the command ''stay!'' from the 1580s.^(Etymonline) The noun meant a halt from 1537, a stay of proceedings from 1542, and a visit from 1538.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Stay put'' is American, by 1834.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1440 – to halt (''Promptorium Parvulorum'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1520s – to postpone, in law.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1537 – noun, a halt.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1538 – noun, a visit.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1542 – a stay of proceedings.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1550s – to stay as a guest.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1570s – to remain.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1834 – ''stay put''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To continue to be in a place or condition; to [[remain]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To live somewhere for a time as a guest.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To stop or pause; to wait.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # To stop or [[check]]; to postpone.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(law)'' To suspend an order or proceeding.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To satisfy for a time: ''stay one's hunger''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A short period of residence; a visit.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # ''(law)'' A suspension or postponement of proceedings or of an [[execution]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # A halt or check.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ {{homograph|2|support}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=early 14th century}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The support is [[bor|fro|estaie|t=a piece of wood used as a support]], with the verb [[m|fro|estaiier|t=to prop]] (modern French [[m|fr|étayer]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) a word of Germanic origin.^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) Barnhart derives it from [[frk|*staka|t=support]],^(Barnhart 1988) and Klein from [[dum|staeye]].^(Klein 1966) It is related to [[stake]]^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and [[stay#3]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A support, prop: early 14th century according to Etymonline,^(Etymonline) about 1515 according to Barnhart, who dates the verb “to prop” to 1423.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The plural ''stays'', a corset, is from 1608, so called because stays were made in two pieces laced together.^(Barnhart 1988) In sport the verb came to mean “to hold out to the end”, of horses by 1834,^(Etymonline) and ''stay the course'' (1858) and ''staying power'' (1855) come from the racecourse.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * early 14th century – a support.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1423 – verb, to prop.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1608 – ''stays'', a corset.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1834 – to hold out in a race.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1858 – ''stay the course''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A support or [[brace]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A strip of bone, plastic or metal stiffening a garment, such as a [[collar]].^(AHD)

+ # ''(plural)'' A [[corset]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To prop up or support.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To strengthen or sustain in spirit.^(AHD)

+

+ {{homograph|3|mast rope}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1100 (late Old English stæg)|origins=gem-pro *stagaz}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The rope is [[inh|enm|stei]], [[inh|ang|stæg|t=rope supporting a mast]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*stagaz]],^(Etymonline) from a Germanic verb meaning “to be firm”,^(SOED 2002) which Etymonline traces to [[ine-pro|*stak-|t=to stand, place]].^(Etymonline) Its relatives include [[nl|stag]] and [[non|stag]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and it is related to [[steel]].^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) French [[m|fr|étai]] and Spanish [[m|es|estay]] were taken from Germanic.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A rope supporting a mast: late Old English ''stæg'', before 1100.^(Barnhart 1988) The Middle English form ''stei'' is from 1294–95.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By the 1530s the word was used of other supporting ropes.^(Etymonline) The verb “to put a ship on the other tack” is from before 1613, and “to secure with stays” from 1627.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1100 – late Old English ''stæg''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1294–95 – ''stei''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1530s – other supporting ropes.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1613 – verb, to change tack.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1627 – verb, to secure with stays.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(nautical)'' A heavy rope or wire bracing a [[mast]] or [[spar]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A rope used to steady or guide.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(nautical)'' To put a ship on the opposite [[tack]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # ''(nautical)'' To secure a mast with stays.^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stand]]

+ * [[state]]

+ * [[staid]]

+ * [[stake]]

+ * [[steel]]

+ * [[mainstay]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary calls ''stay'' the least specific of ''stay'', ''remain'', ''wait'', ''abide'', ''tarry'', ''linger'' and ''sojourn'', though it can suggest that the person is a guest.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}