- stale
- stalestale1 [stāl]adj.staler, stalest [ME, prob. via Anglo-Norm < OFr estale, quiet, stagnant < Gmc * stall: for IE base see STILL1]1. having lost freshness; made musty, dry, bad, etc. by having been kept too long; specif.,a) flat; vapid; tasteless [stale beer]b) hard and dry: said of bread, etc.c) low in oxygen content; stagnant [stale air]2. having lost originality or newness; lacking in interest through familiarity or overuse; hackneyed; trite [a stale joke, stale gossip]3. out of condition, ineffective, enervated, bored, etc. from either too much or too little activity4. Law having lost legal force or effect through lack of use or action, as a claim or lienvt., vi.staled, stalingto make or become stalestalelyadv.stalenessn.stale2 [stāl]vi.staled, staling [ME, akin to MLowG stal, urine < IE base * (s)tel-, to let flow, urinate > Gr stalassein, to drip, telma, puddle]to urinate: said as of horses and cattlen.urine, as of horses or cattle
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.