STALE

stale

Noun

  1. Theft; the act of stealing
  2. Stealth, used in the phrase by stale

Noun (etymology 2)

  1. A long, thin handle, as of rakes, axes, &c.
  2. The posts and rungs composing a ladder
  3. The stem of a plant
  4. The shaft of an arrow, spear, &c.

Noun (etymology 3)

  1. A fixed position, particularly a soldier's in a battle-line.
  2. A stalemate; a stalemated game
  3. An ambush.
  4. A band of armed men or hunters
  5. The main force of an army

Noun (etymology 4)

  1. Urine, especially used of horses and cattle

Noun (etymology 5)

  1. Something stale; a loaf of bread &c. that is no longer fresh

Noun (etymology 6)

  1. A live bird to lure birds of prey or others of its kind into a trap
  2. Any lure, particularly in reference to people used as live bait.
  3. An accomplice of a thief or criminal acting as bait
  4. a partner whose beloved abandons or torments him in favor of another
  5. A patsy, a pawn, someone used under some false pretext to forward another's (usu. sinister) designs; a stalking horse
  6. A prostitute of the lowest sort; any wanton woman
  7. Any decoy, either stuffed or manufactured

Verb

  1. To make a ladder by joining rungs ("stales") between the posts

Verb (etymology 2)

  1. to stalemate
  2. to be stalemated

Verb (etymology 3)

  1. to piss, especially used of horses and cattle

Verb (etymology 4)

  1. to make stale; to age in order to clear and strengthen the drink, particularly in reference to beer
  2. to make stale; to cause to go out of fashion or currency; to diminish the novelty or interest of, particularly by excessive exposure or consumption
  3. to become stale; to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption
  4. to become stale; to grow unpleasant from age

Verb (etymology 5)

  1. To serve as a decoy, to lure

Adjective

  1. at a standstill; stalemated

Adjective (etymology 2)

  1. clear, free of dregs and lees; old and strong
  2. no longer fresh, in reference to food, urine, straw, wounds
  3. no longer fresh, new, or interesting, in reference to ideas and immaterial things; cliche, hackneyed, dated
  4. no longer nubile or suitable for marriage, in reference to people; past one's prime
  5. fallow, in reference to land
  6. unreasonably long in coming, in reference to claims and actions
  7. worn out, particularly due to age or over-exertion, in reference to athletes and animals in competition
  8. out of date, unpaid for an unreasonable amount of time, particularly in reference to checks


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