stable

stable
\ \ English has two distinct words stable, but both come ultimately from the same source: the Indo-European base *stā- ‘stand’, ancestor also of English stand. The adjective stable [13] comes via Old French estable from Latin stabilisstanding firm’, which has also given English establish, stability [15], and stabilize [19]. It was formed from the base *stā-, as was Latin stabulumstanding-place’, hence ‘enclosure for animals’, which English acquired via Old French estable as stable [13]. The corresponding Germanic formation, also based on *stā-, is stall.
\ \ A constable is etymologically an ‘officer in charge of stables’.

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • stable — [ stabl ] adj. • fin XIIe; lat. stabilis 1 ♦ Qui n est pas sujet à changer ou à disparaître; qui demeure dans le même état. ⇒ constant, durable, 1. ferme, permanent, solide. « Rien n est stable dans la nature; tout y est dans un perpétuel… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • stable — sta‧ble [ˈsteɪbl] adjective steady and not likely to move or change: • Japanese enterprises operate under relatively stable capital market conditions. • The key to growth and stable employment will be through improving the international… …   Financial and business terms

  • stable — STABLE. adj. de t. g. Qui est dans un estat, dans une assiette ferme & inesbranlable. Un edifice stable. stable & ferme comme un rocher. Il est plus en usage au figuré. Une paix ferme & stable, & de perpetuelle durée. on ne sçauroit s asseurer en …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Stable — Sta ble (st[=a] b l), a. [OF. estable, F. stable, fr. L. stabilis, fr. stare to stand. See {Stand}, v. i. and cf. {Establish}.] 1. Firmly established; not easily moved, shaken, or overthrown; fixed; as, a stable government. [1913 Webster] In this …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stable — Sta ble, n. [OF. estable, F. [ e]table, from L. stabulum, fr. stare to stand. See {Stand}, v. i.] A house, shed, or building, for beasts to lodge and feed in; esp., a building or apartment with stalls, for horses; as, a horse stable; a cow stable …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • stable — Ⅰ. stable [1] ► ADJECTIVE (stabler, stablest) 1) not likely to give way or overturn; firmly fixed. 2) not deteriorating in health after an injury or operation. 3) emotionally well balanced. 4) not likely to change or fail …   English terms dictionary

  • Stable — Sta ble, v. i. To dwell or lodge in a stable; to dwell in an inclosed place; to kennel. Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stable — Sta ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stabled} ( b ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Stabling} ( bl[i^]ng).] To put or keep in a stable. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stable — (englisch: 1. stabil 2. Stall) bezeichnet: eine stabile Softwareversion einen Zusammenschluss („Stall“) von mehreren Wrestlern, siehe Wrestlingstable Siehe auch Stable Gallery …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • stable — Stable, Stabilis, Firmus. Soit stable et ferme, Ita ius esto, B …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • stable — stable1 [stā′bəl] adj. stabler, stablest [ME < OFr estable < L stabilis < stare, to STAND] 1. a) not easily moved or thrown off balance; firm; steady b) not likely to break down, fall apart, or give way; fixed c) firm in character, p …   English World dictionary

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