VividLex

Home / Thesaurus / stay

Thesaurus: stay

A large, strong rope, employed to support a mast, by being extended from the head of one mast down to some other, or to some part of the vessel. Those which lead forward are called fore-and-aft stays; those which lead to…

Full dictionary entry Search Lens associations

Related headwords

Definitions

  1. n. A large, strong rope, employed to support a mast, by being extended from the head of one mast down to some other, or to some part of the vessel. Those which lead forward are called fore-and-aft stays; those which lead to the vessel's side are called backstays. See Illust. of Ship.
  2. v. i. To stop from motion or falling; to prop; to fix firmly; to hold up; to support.
  3. v. i. To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.
  4. v. i. To bear up under; to endure; to support; to resist successfully.
  5. v. i. To hold from proceeding; to withhold; to restrain; to stop; to hold.
  6. v. i. To hinde/; to delay; to detain; to keep back.
  7. v. i. To remain for the purpose of; to wait for.
  8. v. i. To cause to cease; to put an end to.
  9. v. i. To fasten or secure with stays; as, to stay a flat sheet in a steam boiler.
  10. v. i. To tack, as a vessel, so that the other side of the vessel shall be presented to the wind.
  11. v. i. To remain; to continue in a place; to abide fixed for a space of time; to stop; to stand still.
  12. v. i. To continue in a state.
  13. v. i. To wait; to attend; to forbear to act.
  14. v. i. To dwell; to tarry; to linger.
  15. v. i. To rest; to depend; to rely; to stand; to insist.
  16. v. i. To come to an end; to cease; as, that day the storm stayed.
  17. v. i. To hold out in a race or other contest; as, a horse stays well.
  18. v. i. To change tack; as a ship.
  19. n. That which serves as a prop; a support.
  20. n. A corset stiffened with whalebone or other material, worn by women, and rarely by men.
  21. n. Continuance in a place; abode for a space of time; sojourn; as, you make a short stay in this city.
  22. n. Cessation of motion or progression; stand; stop.
  23. n. Hindrance; let; check.
  24. n. Restraint of passion; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.
  25. n. Strictly, a part in tension to hold the parts together, or stiffen them.