2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Stay  \Stay\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Stayed}or  {Staid};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Staying}.]  [OF.  estayer,  F.  ['e]tayer  to  prop,  fr 
  OF  estai,  F.  ['e]tai,  a  prop,  probably  fr  OD  stade, 
  staeye  a  prop,  akin  to  E.  stead;  or  cf  stay  a  rope  to 
  support  a  mast.  Cf  {Staid},  a.,  {Stay},  v.  i.] 
  1.  To  stop  from  motion  or  falling;  to  prop;  to  fix  firmly;  to 
  hold  up  to  support. 
 
  Aaron  and  Hur  stayed  up  his  hands,  the  one  on  the 
  one  side  and  the  other  on  the  other  side  --Ex. 
  xvii.  12. 
 
  Sallows  and  reeds  .  .  .  for  vineyards  useful  found 
  To  stay  thy  vines.  --Dryden. 
 
  2.  To  support  from  sinking;  to  sustain  with  strength;  to 
  satisfy  in  part  or  for  the  time. 
 
  He  has  devoured  a  whole  loaf  of  bread  and  butter, 
  and  it  has  not  staid  his  stomach  for  a  minute.  --Sir 
  W.  Scott. 
 
  3.  To  bear  up  under  to  endure;  to  support;  to  resist 
  successfully. 
 
  She  will  not  stay  the  siege  of  loving  terms,  Nor 
  bide  the  encounter  of  assailing  eyes.  --Shak. 
 
  4.  To  hold  from  proceeding;  to  withhold;  to  restrain;  to 
  stop;  to  hold 
 
  Him  backward  overthrew  and  down  him  stayed  With 
  their  rude  hands  grisly  grapplement.  --Spenser. 
 
  All  that  may  stay  their  minds  from  thinking  that 
  true  which  they  heartly  wish  were  false.  --Hooker. 
 
  5.  To  hinde?;  to  delay;  to  detain;  to  keep  back 
 
  Your  ships  are  stayed  at  Venice.  --Shak. 
 
  This  business  staid  me  in  London  almost  a  week. 
  --Evelyn. 
 
  I  was  willing  to  stay  my  reader  on  an  argument  that 
  appeared  to  me  new  --Locke. 
 
  6.  To  remain  for  the  purpose  of  to  wait  for  ``I  stay  dinner 
  there.''  --Shak. 
 
  7.  To  cause  to  cease;  to  put  an  end  to 
 
  Stay  your  strife.  --Shak. 
 
  For  flattering  planets  seemed  to  say  This  child 
  should  ills  of  ages  stay.  --Emerson. 
 
  8.  (Engin.)  To  fasten  or  secure  with  stays;  as  to  stay  a 
  flat  sheet  in  a  steam  boiler. 
 
  9.  (Naut.)  To  tack,  as  a  vessel,  so  that  the  other  side  of 
  the  vessel  shall  be  presented  to  the  wind. 
 
  {To  stay  a  mast}  (Naut.),  to  incline  it  forward  or  aft,  or  to 
  one  side  by  the  stays  and  backstays. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Stayed  \Stayed\,  a. 
  Staid;  fixed;  settled;  sober;  --  now  written  staid.  See 
  {Staid}.  --Bacon.  Pope. 

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