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Etymology data from Wiktionary via Wiktextract (CC BY-SA 4.0). Chinese character data from the 說文解字, the Taiwan MOE 國語辭典簡編本 (CC BY-ND 3.0 TW) and HSK/TOCFL lists.

Explanations are written by a local model (gemma4) and only published after a verification pass against the cited sources. How it works.

English

stay

/steɪ/
To remain in a particular place, especially for a definite or short period of time; sojourn; abide.

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    Origin

    Etymology 1

    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 stede (“a place, spot, locality, fixed position, station, site, standing, status, position of a moving body, stopping, standing still, stability, fixity, firmness, steadfastness”), Swedish stödja (“to prop, support, brace, hold up, bolster”), Icelandic stöðug (“continuous, stable”). More at stead, steady.

    Sense of "remain, continue" may be due to later influence from Old French ester, esteir (“to stand, be, continue, remain”), from Latin stāre (“stand”), from the same Proto-Indo-European root above; however, derivation from this root is untenable based on linguistic and historical grounds.

    An alternative etymology derives Old French estaye, estaie, from Frankish *stakā, *stakō (“stake, post”), from Proto-Germanic *stakô (“stake, bar, stick, pole”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teg- (“rod, pole, stick”), making it cognate with Old English staca (“pin, stake”), Old English stician (“to stick, be placed, lie, remain fixed”). Cognate with Albanian shtagë (“a long stick, a pole”). More at stake, stick.

    Etymology 2

    From Middle English stay, from Old French estaye, estaie (“a prop, a 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 Old Dutch *stad (“a site, place, location, standing”), from Proto-Germanic *stadiz (“a standing, place”), from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand”). See above.

    Etymology 3

    From Middle English stay, from Old English stæġ (“stay, a rope supporting a mast”), from Proto-West Germanic *stag, from Proto-Germanic *stagą (“stay, rope”), from Proto-Indo-European *stek-, *stāk- (“stand, pole”), from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand”). Cognate with Dutch stag (“stay”), German Stag (“stay”), Swedish stag (“stay”), Icelandic stag (“stay”).

    Etymology 4

    From Middle English *steȝe, from Old English *stǣġe, an apocopated variant of stǣġel (“steep, abrupt”), from Proto-West Germanic *staigil (“steep”), see sty.

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • rootProto-Indo-European*steh₂- “to stand, stay”
    • inheritedMiddle Englishsteyen
      • derivedOld Frenchestayer
        • derivedMiddle Dutchstaeye “a prop, stay”
      • derivedOld Frenchestaye
        • derivedFrankish*stakā
          • derivedProto-Germanic*stakô “stake, bar, stick, pole”
            • derivedProto-Indo-European*(s)teg- “rod, pole, stick”
    • inheritedMiddle Englishstay
      • inheritedOld Englishstæġ “stay, a rope supporting a mast”
        • inheritedProto-West Germanic*stag
          • inheritedProto-Germanic*stagą “stay, rope”
            • derivedProto-Indo-European*stek-
    • inheritedMiddle English*steȝe
      • inheritedOld English*stǣġe
        • derivedProto-West Germanic*staigil “steep”

    Related: Old English stæġ, Old English stede, Swedish stödja, Icelandic stöðug, Old French ester, Latin stāre, Old English staca, Old English stician, Dutch stag, German Stag, Swedish stag, Icelandic stag

    Meanings

    verb
    1. To remain in a particular place, especially for a definite or short period of time; sojourn; abide.
    2. To continue to have a particular quality.
    3. To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.
    4. To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.
    5. To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder.
    6. To restrain; withhold; check; stop.
    noun
    1. Continuance or a period of time spent in a place; abode for an indefinite time.
    2. A postponement, especially of an execution or other punishment.
    3. A stop; a halt; a break or cessation of action, motion, or progress.
    4. A fixed state; fixedness; stability; permanence.
    5. A station or fixed anchorage for vessels.
    6. Restraint of passion; prudence; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.
    particle
    1. Aspect marker indicating frequency or permanence.
    adj
    1. Steep; ascending.
    2. (of a roof) Steeply pitched.
    3. Difficult to negotiate; not easy to access; sheer.
    4. Stiff; upright; unbending; reserved; haughty; proud.

    Sources

    • Wiktionary (via Wiktextract / kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Wiktionary: stay