stale

stale
stale
stale1 [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 activity
4. Law having lost legal force or effect through lack of use or action, as a claim or lien
vt., vi.
staled, staling
to make or become stale
stalely
adv.
staleness
n.
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 cattle
n.
urine, as of horses or cattle

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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  • stale — [steıl] adj [Date: 1200 1300; Origin: Probably from Old French estale standing still, settled , from estal standing place ] 1.) bread or cake that is stale is no longer fresh or good to eat ≠ ↑fresh ▪ French bread goes stale (=becomes stale) very …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • stale — [ steıl ] adjective * 1. ) stale food such as bread is old and no longer fresh: a package of stale crackers get/go stale: Wrap the bread up well or it ll get stale. 2. ) used for describing something that does not smell fresh or pleasant: stale… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Stale — Stale, a. [Akin to stale urine, and to stall, n.; probably from Low German or Scandinavian. Cf. {Stale}, v. i.] 1. Vapid or tasteless from age; having lost its life, spirit, and flavor, from being long kept; as, stale beer. [1913 Webster] 2. Not… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • stale — adj: impaired in legal effect or force by reason of not being used, acted upon, or demanded in a timely fashion the search warrant was invalid because it was based on stale information a stale claim Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam… …   Law dictionary

  • Stale — (st[=a]l), n. [OE. stale, stele, AS. st[ae]l, stel; akin to LG. & D. steel, G. stiel; cf. L. stilus stake, stalk, stem, Gr. steleo n a handle, and E. stall, stalk, n.] The stock or handle of anything; as, the stale of a rake. [Written also… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stale — Stale, n. [See {Stale}, a. & v. i.] 1. That which is stale or worn out by long keeping, or by use. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. A prostitute. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. Urine, esp. that of beasts. Stale of horses. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • stale — {{/stl 13}}{{stl 8}}przysł. {{/stl 8}}{{stl 7}} w sposób ciągły, nieustanny, nieprzerwany; bezustannie, bez przerwy, bez ustanku, przez cały czas : {{/stl 7}}{{stl 10}}Stale upominać kogoś. Stale uczyć się. Stale mówił to samo. {{/stl 10}} …   Langenscheidt Polski wyjaśnień

  • Stale — Stale, v. i. [Akin to D. & G. stallen, Dan. stalle, Sw. stalla, and E. stall a stable. [root] 163. See {Stall}, n., and cf. {Stale}, a.] To make water; to discharge urine; said especially of horses and cattle. Hudibras. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stale — Stale, n. [Cf. OF. estal place, position, abode, market, F. [ e]tal a butcher s stall, OHG. stal station, place, stable, G. stall (see {Stall}, n.); or from OE. stale theft, AS. stalu (see {Steal}, v. t.).] 1. Something set, or offered to view,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stale — Stale, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Staled} (st[=a]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Staling}.] To make vapid or tasteless; to destroy the life, beauty, or use of; to wear out. [1913 Webster] Age can not wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety. Shak. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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