Stay

stā, v.i. to remain: to abide for any time: to continue in a state: to wait: to cease acting: to dwell: to trust.— v.t. to cause to stand: to stop: to restrain: to delay: to prevent from falling: to prop: to support, rest, rely:— pa.t. and pa.p. stayed, staid.— n. continuance in a place: abode for a time: stand: stop: a fixed state: a standstill: suspension of a legal proceeding: prop, support: ( pl. ) a kind of stiff inner waistcoat worn by women.— ns. Stay′-at-home , one who keeps much at home—also adj. ; Stay′-bolt , a bolt or rod binding together opposite plates; Stay′er , one who, or that which, stops, holds, or supports: a person or animal of good lasting or staying qualities for a race, .; Stay′-lace , a lace for fastening a bodice; Stay′-mā′ker , one whose occupation is to make stays.— Stay the stomach , to allay the cravings of hunger for the time. [O. Fr. estayer, estaye —Old Dut. stade , a stay.]