pret. staid, for stayed.

To remain; to continue in a place; to abide for any indefinite time. Do you stay here, while I go to the next house. Stay here a week. We staid at the Hotel Montmorenci. Stay, I command you; stay and hear me first.

To continue in a state. The flames augment, and stay at their full highth, then languish to decay.

To wait; to attend; to forbear to act. I stay for Turnus. Would ye stay for them from having husbands? Ruth 1:13.

To stop; to stand still. She would command the hasty sun to stay.

To dwell. I must stay a little on one action.

To rest; to rely; to confide in; to trust. Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression, and stay thereon-- Isaiah 30:12.

pret. and pp. staid, for stayed.

To stop; to hold from proceeding; to withhold; to restrain. All that may stay the mind from thinking that true which they heartily wish were false. To stay these sudden gusts of passion.

To delay; to obstruct; to hinder from proceeding. Your ships are staid at Venice. I was willing to stay my reader on an argument that appeared to me to be new.

To keep from departure; as, you might have staid me here.

To stop from motion or falling; to prop; to hold up; to support. Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands. Exodus 17:12. Sallows and reeds for vineyards useful found to stay thy vines.

To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; as, to take a luncheon to stay the stomach.

Continuance in a place; abode for a time indefinite; as, you make a short stay in this city; . Embrace the hero, and his stay implore.

Stand; stop; cessation of motion or progression. Affairs of state seemd rather to stand at a stay.

Stop; obstruction; hinderance from progress. Grievd with each step, tormented with each stay.

Restraint of passion; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety. With prudent stay, he long deferrd the rough contention.

A fixed state. Alas, what stay is there in human state!

Prop; support. Trees serve as so many stays for their vines. My only strength and stay! The Lord is my stay. Psalm 18:78. The stay and the staff, the means of supporting and preserving life. Isaiah 3:1.

Steadiness of conduct.