Part 763

Isa. xxx. 12.

6. To come to an end; to cease; as, that day the storm stayed. [Archaic]

Here my commission stays.

Shak.

7. To hold out in a race or other contest; as, a horse stays well. [Colloq.]

8. (Naut.) To change tack; as a ship.

Stay, n. [Cf. OF. estai, F. étai support, and E. stay a rope to support a mast.] 1. That which serves as a prop; a support. "My only strength and stay." Milton.

Trees serve as so many stays for their vines.

Addison.

Lord Liverpool is the single stay of this ministry.

Coleridge.

2. pl. A corset stiffened with whalebone or other material, worn by women, and rarely by men.

How the strait stays the slender waist constrain.

Gay.

3. Continuance in a place; abode for a space of time; sojourn; as, you make a short stay in this city.

Make haste, and leave thy business and thy care; No mortal interest can be worth thy stay.

Dryden.

Embrace the hero and his stay implore.

Waller.

4. Cessation of motion or progression; stand; stop.

Made of sphere metal, never to decay Until his revolution was at stay.

Milton.

Affairs of state seemed rather to stand at a stay.

Hayward.

5. Hindrance; let; check. [Obs.]

They were able to read good authors without any stay, if the book were not false.

Robynson (more's Utopia).

6. Restraint of passion; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety. [Obs.] "Not grudging that thy lust hath bounds and stays." Herbert.