Stagnant, stag′nant, adj. stagnating: not flowing: motionless: impure from being motionless: not brisk: dull.—n. Stag′nancy, the state of being stagnant.—adv. Stag′nantly.—v.i. Stag′nate, to cease to flow: to become dull or motionless.—n. Stagnā′tion, act of stagnating: state of being stagnant or motionless: dullness. [L. stagnans, -antis, pr.p. of stagnāre.]
Stahlianism, stäl′i-an-izm, n. the doctrines of Georg Ernst Stahl, a German physician (1660-1734), who held that there exists a mysterious force residing in, but independent of, matter, not only forming the body, but directing it in all its functions—also Stahl′ism.—adj. Stahl′ian.
Staid, stād, adj. steady: sober: grave.—adv. Staid′ly.—n. Staid′ness. [For stayed—stay.]
Staig, stāg, n. (Scot.) a young horse, a stallion.
Stain, stān, v.t. to tinge or colour: to give a different colour to: to impregnate, as a tissue, with some substance whose reaction colours some parts but not others, thus making form or structure plainly visible: to dye: to mark with guilt or infamy: to bring reproach on: to sully: to tarnish.—v.i. to take or impart a stain.—n. a discoloration: a spot: taint of guilt: cause of reproach: shame.—n. Stain′er, one who stains or blots: a dyer.—adj. Stain′less, without or free from stain.—adv. Stain′lessly.—n. Stain′lessness.—Stained glass, glass painted with certain pigments fused into its surface. [Short for distain—O. Fr. desteindre—L. dis-, away, tingĕre, to dye.]
Stair, stār, n. a series of steps for ascending to a higher level: one of such steps: a flight of steps, only in pl.: (Spens.) a degree.—ns. Stair′-car′pet, carpet suitable for stairs; Stair′case, a flight of stairs with balusters, &c.; Stair′-rod, one of a number of metallic rods for holding a stair-carpet in its place.—adv. Down′stairs, in the lower part of a house—opp. to Upstairs.—Back-stairs, adjectively for secret, underhand; Below stairs, in a lower story, in the basement. [A.S. stǽager—stígan, to ascend; Ger. steigen, to climb, Ice. stegi, a step.]
Staith, Stathe, stāth, n. (prov.) the extremity of a line of rails laid on a platform, for discharging coals, &c., into vessels. [A.S. stæth, steth, bank.]
Stake, stāk, n. a strong stick pointed at one end: one of the upright pieces of a fence: a post to which an animal is tied, esp. that to which a martyr was tied to be burned: martyrdom: a tinsmith's anvil: anything pledged in a wager: a prize, anything to gain or lose.—v.t. to fasten, or pierce with a stake: to mark the bounds of with stakes (often with off and out): to wager, to hazard.—ns. Stake′-hold′er, the person with whom the stakes in a wager are deposited; Stake′-net, a form of fishing-net hung on stakes.—At stake, hazarded, in danger. [A.S. staca, a stake.]
Stalactite, sta-lak′tīt, n. a deposit of carbonate of lime, hanging like an icicle from the roof of a cavern, formed by the dripping of water.—adjs. Stalac′tic, -al, Stalactit′ic, -al, having the form or properties of a stalactite; Stalac′tiform, like a stalactite. [Gr. stalaktos—stalazein, to drip.]
Stalagmite, sta-lag′mīt, n. a deposit of carbonate of lime, &c., on the floor of a cavern, usually cylindrical or conical in form, caused by the dripping from the roof of water holding some substance in solution; it is the counterpart to a Stalactite, and both are often fused together, forming a Stalactitic column.—adjs. Stalagmit′ic, -al, having the form of stalagmites.—adv. Stalagmit′ically. [Gr. stalagmos, a dropping—stalazein, to drip.]