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It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American Dictionary of the English language; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas; and if the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language. |
STALE, a. [I do not find this word in the other Teutonic dialects. It is probably from the root of still, G., to set, and equivalent to stagnant.]
STALE, n. [G. See Stall.]
STALE, v.t. To make void or useless; to destroy the life, beauty or use of; to wear out.
STALE, v.i. [G.] To make water; to discharge urine; as horses and cattle.
STALE, n. Urine; used of horses and cattle.
The stock or handle of anything; as, the stale of a
rake.
[Written also steal, stele, etc.]
But seeling the arrow's stale without, and that
the head did go Vapid or tasteless from age; having lost its
life, spirit, and flavor, from being long kept; as, stale
beer.
Not new; not freshly made; as, stele
bread.
Having lost the life or graces of youth;
worn out; decayed.
"A stale virgin."
Spectator. Worn out by use or familiarity; having lost
its novelty and power of pleasing; trite; common.
Swift.
Wit itself, if stale is less pleasing. Grew. How weary, stale flat, and unprofitable Stale affidavit (Law), an affidavit held above a year. Craig. -- Stale demand (Law), a claim or demand which has not been pressed or demanded for a long time. To make vapid or tasteless] to destroy the life,
beauty, or use of; to wear out.
Age can not wither her, nor custom stale To make water; to discharge urine; -- said especially of horses
and cattle.
Hudibras. That which is stale or worn out by long keeping, or by use.
[Obs.] A prostitute.
[Obs.]
Shak. Urine, esp. that of beasts.
"Stale of horses." Shak. Something set, or offered to view, as an
allurement to draw others to any place or purpose; a decoy; a stool
pigeon.
[Obs.]
Still, as he went, he crafty stales did lay. Spenser. A stalking-horse.
[Obs.] B.
Jonson. A stalemate.
[Obs.]
Bacon. A laughingstock; a dupe.
[Obs.]
Shak. | ||||||||