stay

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To remain in one place and not leave.

   We are staying in Detroit for the weekend.

2. 2
   verb

   To continue to be in a particular state or situation.

   Please stay calm and wait for help.

3. 3
   verb

   To live somewhere for a short time as a guest.

   You can stay with me while you are in town.

4. 4
   noun

   A period of time spent in a place.

   They had a lovely stay in Paris.

5. 5
   verb

   To officially stop a legal process for a time.

   The judge stayed the execution order.

Common collocations

• stay the night Verb + noun
• long stay Adjective + noun
• overnight stay Adjective + noun
• short stay Adjective + noun
• book a stay Verb + noun
• enjoy a stay Verb + noun
• enjoy one's stay Verb + noun
• brief stay Adjective + noun
• extended stay Adjective + noun
• extend a stay Verb + noun

From Middle English steyen, staien, from Old French estayer, estaier (“to fix, prop up, support, stay”), from estaye, estaie (“a prop, stay”), from Middle Dutch staeye (“a prop, stay”), a contracted form of staede, stade (“a prop, stay, help, aid”) (compare Middle Dutch staeyen, staeden (“to make firm, stay, support, hold still, stabilise”)), from Proto-West Germanic *stadi (“a site, place, location, standing”), from Proto-Germanic *stadiz (“a standing, place”), from Proto-Indo-European *stéh₂tis (“standing”). Influenced by Old English stæġ ("a stay, rope"; see below). Cognate with Old English…

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