stale

stale
\ \ [13] Something that is stale has etymologically been allowed to ‘stand’ – so that it is no longer fresh. The word comes from Old French estalestationary’, a derivative of estalerhalt’ (from which English gets the verb stall).
\ \ And this in turn goes back ultimately to the prehistoric Germanic base *sta- ‘stand’. Stale originally denoted wine, beer, etc that had ‘stood’ long enough for the sediment to clear (‘If mead is well sod \ and stale it is liking to the taste’, John de Trevisa, De proprietatibus rerum 1398), and it was not until the early 16th century that derogatory connotations of lack of freshness began to creep in.
\ \ Cf.STALL, STAND

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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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 — 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;… …   English World 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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