Little Jimmy was staring at a dog in the park whilst the dog was licking himself in inappropriate parts and said to his dad, "I wish I could do that."
Jimmy"s dad looked down at Jimmy and said, "Maybe if you ask the dog nicely, he might let you!!"
adj. Of quiet and steady character; sedate. [= stayed, past part. Of *stay1]
STAIN
—v. - discolour or be discoloured by the action of liquid sinking in.
- spoil, damage (a reputation, character, etc.).
- colour (wood, glass, etc.) With a penetrating substance.
- impregnate (a specimen) with a colouring agent for microscopic examination. —n. - discoloration; spot, mark.
- blot, blemish; damage to a reputation etc.
- substance used in staining. [earlier distain from french desteindre]
STAIR
n. - each of a set of fixed indoor steps.
- (usu. In pl.) Set of these. [old english]
STAKE
—n. - stout sharpened stick driven into the ground as a support, boundary mark, etc.
- hist. A post to which a condemned person was tied to be burnt alive. B (prec. By the) such death as a punishment. —v. (-king) 1 secure or support with a stake or stakes.
- (foll. By off, out) mark off (an area) with stakes.
- establish (a claim). stake out colloq. Place under surveillance. [old english]
- —n. - sum of money etc. Wagered on an event.
- (often foll. By in) interest or concern, esp. Financial.
- (in pl.) A prize-money, esp. In a horse-race. B such a race. —v. - wager.
- us colloq. Support, esp. Financially. at stake risked, to be won or lost. [old english]
STALE
—adj. - a not fresh. B musty, insipid, or otherwise the worse for age or use.
- trite, unoriginal (stale joke).
- (of an athlete or performer) impaired by excessive training. —v. (-ling) make or become stale. staleness n. [anglo-french estaler halt]
STALK
n. - main stem of a herbaceous plant.
- slender attachment or support of a leaf, flower, fruit, etc.
- similar support for an organ etc. In an animal. [diminutive of (now dial.) Stale rung]
- —v. - pursue (game or an enemy) stealthily.
- stride, walk in a haughty manner.
- formal or rhet. Move silently or threateningly through (a place) (fear stalked the land). —n. - stalking of game.
- haughty gait. [old english: related to *steal]
STALL
—n. - trader's booth or table in a market etc.
- compartment for one animal in a stable or cowhouse.
- fixed, usu. Partly enclosed, seat in the choir or chancel of a church.
- (usu. In pl.) Each of the seats on the ground floor of a theatre.
- a compartment for one person in a shower-bath etc. B compartment for one horse at the start of a race.
- a stalling of an engine or aircraft. B condition resulting from this. —v. - (of a vehicle or its engine) stop because of an overload on the engine or an inadequate supply of fuel to it.
- (of an aircraft or its pilot) lose control because the speed is too low.
- cause to stall. [old english]
- v. - play for time when being questioned etc.
- delay, obstruct. [stall ‘decoy’: probably related to *stall1]
STAMP
—v. - a bring down (one's foot) heavily, esp. On the ground. B (often foll. By on) crush or flatten in this way. C walk heavily.
- a impress (a design, mark, etc.) On a surface. B impress (a surface) with a pattern etc.
- affix a postage or other stamp to.
- assign a specific character to; mark out. —n. - instrument for stamping.
- a mark or design made by this. B impression of an official mark required to be made on deeds, bills of exchange, etc., as evidence of payment of tax.
- small adhesive piece of paper indicating that payment has been made, esp. A postage stamp.
- mark or label etc. On a commodity as evidence of quality etc.
- act or sound of stamping the foot.
- characteristic mark or quality. stamp on 1 impress (an idea etc.) On (the memory etc.).
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