stale´ly

stale´ly
stale1 «stayl», adjective, stal|er, stal|est, verb, staled, stal|ing.
–adj.
1. that has lost some or all of its softness, flavor, or consistency through age; not fresh: »

stale bread.

2. flat; having lost its effervescence: »

stale ginger ale.

3. Figurative. no longer new or interesting; worn-out; hackneyed: »

a stale joke. How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world (Shakespeare).

SYNONYM(S): trite, banal.
4. out of condition through overtraining or too long continued exertion, as an athlete or race horse: »

The horse has gone stale from too much running. The team has gone stale from too much practice.

5. Figurative. temporarily lacking, as in vigor or nimbleness, especially through unremitting application to one kind of thing: »

a stale mind.

6. Law. (of a claim or demand in a court of equity) having been allowed to lie dormant for so long that it has lost validity.
–v.t.
1. to make stale: »

These are things which cannot be staled by repetition (George Gissing).

2. Obsolete. to lower in value or estimation; cheapen.
–v.i.
to become stale: »

Figurative. To see her was a delight that never staled (Somerset Maugham).

[Middle English stale. Compare etym. under stalemate (Cf.stalemate), stall1. (Cf.stall)]
stale´ly, adverb.
stale´ness, noun.
stale2 «stayl», verb, staled, stal|ing, noun.
–v.i.
(of horses and cattle) to urinate.
–n.
the urine of horses and cattle.
[origin uncertain. Compare Old French estaler, Dutch and Middle High German stallen.]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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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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