| 释义 |
▪ I. stable, n.1|ˈsteɪb(ə)l|
Forms: 4–5 stabille, (5 -ylle), 4–5 stabul, 5 stabull(e, Sc. stabill, 5–6 stabil, 6 stabell, 7 stabel, 3– stable: pl. 4 stablen, 5 stablis, stablez, 6 stabullys, Sc. stabulez, 6– stables.
[a. OF. estable masc. and fem., stable, also applied to a cowhouse, pigsty, etc. (mod.F. étable fem. cowhouse):—L. stabulum (also pop.L. stabula pl. used as fem. sing.) stable, stall, enclosure or fold for animals, lit. standing place, f. sta- root of stāre to stand. Cf. Sp. establo, Pg. estabulo stable, It. stabbio sheepfold, Rumanian staul (whence mod.Gr. σταῦλος).]
1. a. A building fitted with stalls, loose-boxes, rack and manger and harness appliances, in which horses are kept. Formerly used in a wider sense: † a building in which domestic animals, as cattle, goats, etc. are kept.
c1250Owl & Night. 629 Vor hors a stable, & oxe a stalle, boþ al þat hom wule þar falle. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5669 And þe hous of malmesbury..He made hit stable to his hors. 1340Ayenb. 210 Huo..þet mest heþ hors mest him fayleþ gromes and stablen. c1386Chaucer Prol. 168 Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) IV. 153 Also bestes þat were i-woned to lyve among men forsoke stable and lesewe. 1463Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.) 152 My mastyre alowyd hys fermour..ffor otys that he toke to my lordys stable..v.s. x.d. 1511Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. IV. 262 Item, to ane grume of the stabulez of Falkland..xiij s. 1538Starkey Dialogue i. iii. (1871) 133 Wher hath byn many housys and churchys..you schal fynd no thyng but schypcotys and stabullys. 1588Exch. Rolls Scot. XXI. 360 David Murray, ane of the kingis majesties maisteris of stabill. 1611Bible Ezek. xxv. 5 And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels. 1660F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 139 'Twas thought the King distributed the best part of the horses in his stable. 1784Cowper Task iii. 463 The stable yields a stercoraceous heap. 1818Scott Br. Lamm. xviii, I shall choose a better stable for my horse than the Kelpie's quick⁓sand. 1840Dickens Old C. Shop xvi, The whole house hurried away into an empty stable where the show stood. 1864Tennyson Aylmer's F. 126 When they ran To loose him [a dog] at the stables.
b. See augean stable.
1903Westm. Gaz. 28 Jan. 9/1 Because the financiers..have set themselves to clear up the stable, and put things upon a more honest and reputable footing. 1909Sieveking Mem. F. W. Newman xiv. 301 Here is indeed the mind of a modern Hercules in its strong rational suggestions as to how this particular ‘stable’ must be swept out.
c. to talk stable: to talk of ‘horsy’ matters.
1855Smedley H. Coverdale viii, We shall have him on our hands, talking stable, and wishing we were dogs and horses, for a whole week!
d. transf. and fig. Also in phr. straight from the stable = straight from the horse's mouth s.v. horse n. 26 c.
1907Lady Monkswell Jrnl. 13 July in Victorian Diarist (1946) II. 188 The beautiful Surrey landscape looks down into this purgatory of motor stables & everything that motors require. 1922Joyce Ulysses 145 Tell him that straight from the stable. 1949A. Christie Crooked House iii. 14 My information..came from the stable itself... She dined with me.
2. a. A collection (of horses) belonging to one stable.
1576Fleming Panopl. Epist. 373 If you take learning and knowledge from among men, what doe you else make of a publique bodye, but a stable of Asses. a1700Evelyn Diary Apr. an. 1646, He then shew'd us a stable of brave horses. 1776in Peterson Mag. Jan. 60/1 The Congress seem to stumble at every step. I do not mean one or two of the cattle, but the whole stable.
b. slang. A group of prostitutes working for the same person or organization.
1937[see knock-down n. 5]. 1940‘J. Crad’ Traders in Women i. 26 He..now runs a ‘stable’ of white women for coloured seamen in Cardiff. 1973C. & R. Milner Black Players ii. 35 Many players [sc. pimps] have several ladies, who constitute their stable. 1979N. Hynd False Flags xi. 91 The consulate maintained a stable of young women..whose only purposes were those of sexual entrapment.
c. transf. (In quots., of motor vehicles.)
1949Sun (Baltimore) 29 July 12/3 The man who owned a stable of bulldozers laughed and said, ‘We'll do it tomorrow morning.’ 1974Spartanburg (S. Carolina) Herald 18 Apr. c1/2 John Greenwood, a self-made millionaire, announced Wednesday that his stable of Corvettes would be running out of John Green Automotive garage on highway 221 at I-85.
3. a. An establishment where race-horses are trained; a racing-stable. Also, the horses belonging to a particular racing-stable; the proprietors and staff of such an establishment.
1810T. Holcroft's Mem. xvi. (1856) 62 As the prize to be obtained was great, the whole stable was on the alert. 1865Lever Luttrell lvi, These were painful reflections, and made him think that very probably he had ‘been backing the wrong stable’. 1868Field 11 July 29/2 De Vere disappointed her stable very much by being the first beaten. 1884H. Smart Post to Finish vi, William Greyson's is not a large stable; still he has a tolerable good string.
b. transf. An establishment where boxers are trained; a group of boxers under the same management.
1897Nat. Police Gaz. (U.S.) 26 May 11/4 His boxing academy at..Dale End, Birmingham, is being largely supported, and some likely lads will shortly emerge from Anthony's stable. 1936Sun (Baltimore) 16 Mar. 3/3 He insisted his occupation was manager of prizefighters, but the arresting detectives failed to recognize the pugilists he mentioned as his ‘stable’. 1953Chicago Daily Sun-Times 29 Dec. 40/5 Some years ago Rocky's hometown pal, Al Columbo, sent Marciano to New York as a candidate for membership in the Weill stable. 1976Scotsman 24 Dec. 15/1 Maurice Hope..becomes the third member of the East London stable managed by Terry Lawless.
c. A team or organization which prepares motor cars for racing; a group of racing cars owned by the same enterprise.
1935Eyston & Lynden Motor Racing & Record Breaking ii. 20 The Italian term [scuderia] finds its equivalent in.. our own ‘stable’, and the formation of such terms among racing men is a development of very recent years. Ibid. vii. 65 Every important Continental racing stable was represented. 1957S. Moss In Track of Speed v. 61 He returned to Europe at the head of a racing stable of mechanics. 1966Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. 1964 xlii. 8 Scuderia.., a stable of cars, usually privately entered.
d. More widely, an establishment which trains or produces persons, etc., esp. of a characteristic quality or type. Also, a group of persons (spec. in publishing) under the same management or trained at the same place.
1942Tee Emm (Air Ministry) II. 137 Robert..takes the lead in the latest offering from the Air Ministry Instructional Film stables. 1951Sun (Baltimore) 19 June 7/2 Best known in the SRP's stable of führers is Remer. 1963Listener 14 Mar. 458/1 The now-famous group centred on George Webb..which used to meet at the ‘Red Barn’, Bexleyheath, the stable out of which Humphrey Lyttelton came, played, typically, for a small audience of each other. 1970C. L. Cline Lett. George Meredith I. 37 Lucas recruited the best staff of artists in the business..mainly from the Punch stable. 1977‘J. le Carré’ Hon. Schoolboy i. 17 Luke..had been the star turn in his magazine's Saigon stable of war reporters.
e. In colloq. phr. from the same stable, from the same source.
1950Sun (Baltimore) 6 Jan. 5 (caption) This jet plane is from the same stable as the Comet. 1959Listener 2 July 36/1, I would be interested to hear a play from the same stable. 1962H. E. Beecheno Introd. Business Stud. v. 42 We find many competing products are coming from the same ‘stables’. 1972G. Bell Villains Galore xiv. 213 No one was quite sure who Boote actually was, except that he was from the same stable as Stallion.
4. Mil. Used in pl. for: Duty or work in the stables; also the bugle-call for this duty, stable-call.
1885Morning Post 5 Feb. (Cass.), They seem always at stables, on parade, or out doing field-firing. 1908Animal Management (Vet. Departm., War Office) 83 The usual hours for stables at Home are [etc.]. Ibid., As soon as this is done ‘Stables’ should sound, when every man should be with his horse. Ibid. 84 At evening stables the horses are to be watered.
5. a. attrib. and Comb.: simple attrib., as stable-bail (bail n.3 4), stable broom, stable brush, stable bucket, † stable chamber, stable-court, stable-dog, stable-door, † stable fee (Sc.), stable fittings, stable-fork, stable-gate, stable-girl, stable guard (Mil.), stable-jacket, stable jockey, stable lantern, stable-litter, stable loft, stable management, stable people, stable plank, stable post, stable slang, stable stuff, stable suit, stable-theatre, stable-wench, stable work; stable-like adj.; locative, as stable-born, adj.
1737Hoppus Salmon's Country Build. Estim. (ed. 2) 103 Pins, Hooks, Chains, &c. to *Stable-Bails.
1648J. Beaumont Psyche x. clx, A *stable-born and manger-cradeled Thing.
1819Scott Leg. Montrose xviii, A bed as hard as a *stable broom.
1862Catal. Internat. Exhib. Brit. II. No. 4535, *Stable brushes.
1842S. Lover Handy Andy i, But that's not nigh the full o' the *stable-bucket!
1582Durham Wills (Surtees) II. 45 In the *stable chaumbre. In the chaumbre within the stable; one bedsteade [etc.].
1816Gentl. Mag. LXXXVI. i. 38 On the right, the chapel, *stable-court,..&c. 1850Thackeray Pendennis iv, Pen..was presently heard riding out of the stable-court.
1865Our Young Folks I. 461 It began to be remarked that this was a *stable-dog, educated for the coach-boy and stable.
1529Extracts Burgh Rec. Edin. (1871) 6 At thai tak na *stabill fee fra the personis that lugis with thame.
1862Catal. Internat. Exhib. Brit. II. No. 6106, *Stable fittings.
1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. ii. iv. vi, The very Ostlers have *stable-forks and flails.
1602Narcissus (1893) 264 It is too late, When steede is stolne to shutt the *stable gate [cf. stable door.]
1967N. Freeling Strike out where not Applicable 36 He blusters..shouting at the *stable-girls.
1908Animal Management (Vet. Departm., War Office) 84 A *stable guard should invariably be posted while the men are away from stables.
1852C. M. Yonge Two Guardians i. 12 Edmund..seeing a boy in a *stable jacket, asked Marian if he should not let him lead the ponies round by the drive. 1884H. Smart Post to Finish vi, A..lad, attired in a grey tweed stable-jacket, moleskin trousers,..and a tweed cap.
1971D. Francis Bonecrack xvi. 215 ‘You can stay on..if you like.’.. ‘What as?’ he said apprehensively... ‘*Stable jockey,’ I said.
1892Zangwill Childr. Ghetto i, The *stable-like doors of the kitchen.
1808J. C. Curwen Econ. Feeding Stock 242 Fresh *stable-litter being made use of.
1851Mayhew Lond. Labour I. 357/2 He allowed me..to sleep in the *stable-loft.
1856‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rural Sports ii. i. ix. 349 Clothing, Dressing, and *Stable Management.
1800E. Hervey Mourtray Fam. IV. 195 He met one of the *stable people.
1595Shakes. John v. ii. 140 To crowch in litter of your *stable plankes.
1781J. Ripley Sel. Orig. Lett. 101, I would have..tied both your hands together with a strong halter to one of the *stable-posts.
1894*Stable slang [see lad n.1 2 c]. 1903Somerville & ‘Ross’ All on Irish Shore 269 His speech, what there is of it, is ungarnished with stable slang.
1551–2in Aungier Syon (1840) 93 And the *stable stuffe and apparell for horsses to be delivered to thands of..our..officers of our stable.
1849Bentley's Misc. XXVI. 465 Stable-boys..at eight guineas a year, and a *stable-suit.
1928T. S. Eliot Dialogue on Poetic Drama in Dryden's Ess. Dram. Poesie p. xxvi, We shall end with a..cosmopolitan little-theatre... What is..more likely is that nothing will be done at all. We are all too busy..to prance about in a *stable-theatre.
1847Tennyson Princess i. 223 A plump-arm'd Ostleress and a *stable wench Came running at the call.
1881Encycl. Brit. XII. 193/1 *Stable work should commence early.
b. Special comb.: stable block, a building designed to house stables; stable-boy, a boy or man employed in or about a stable; stable-call Mil., a bugle-call to stables (see 4); stable-cleaner (see quot.); stable companion, a horse from the same stable; also transf.; stablecraft, the knowledge and skill involved in the proper maintenance of stables and stable animals; stable-dung, dung from stables as distinguished from that collected in the foldyard or in the streets; stable-fly (see quots.); stable groom = groom n.1 5; stable-help, helper = helper 2 spec.; stable-horse (see quot.); stable hours, the fixed times for work in the stable; stable-keeper, one who keeps a stable; one who provides stable-accommodation for horses; stable-lad = stable-boy; stable-language, the parlance of those who have the care and training of horses; stableman, one who is employed in a stable to groom, feed and otherwise look after the horses; stable manure = stable-dung; stable-mate = stable companion; stable-meal [mail n.2] Sc., ‘the liquor consumed in an inn by farmers by way of remunerating the innkeeper for accommodating their horses during the day’ (Jamieson, Suppl.); stable room, accommodation for horses or a horse in a stable; stabling; stablewards adv., towards the stable or stables; stable-yard, the yard attached to a stable. Also stable door.
1977P. D. James Death of Expert Witness ii. i. 56 As she had come round the corner of the house from putting her bicycle in the old *stable block, Inspector Blakelock had been standing at the front door.
1729Swift Direct. Serv. v. (1745) 66 Deliver your Horses to the *Stable-boy, and let him gallop them to the next Pond. 1898J. Arch Life ii. 33 A wealthy banker..took me into his stables, made me a sort of stable-boy.
1889Century Mag. Apr. 900 Will you go down to *stable-call and pick out a mount?
1875Knight Dict. Mech., *Stable-cleaner, a manure-drag for removing used litter from stables.
1868Field 11 July 29/3 Chatelherault winning..by a head from his *stable companion. 1892Strand Mag. July 36/1 Its stable companion was the Challenge tricycle. 1920Galsworthy Tatterdemalion xii. 179, I used to like very much his attitude to the young ‘stable-companion’ who had arrived with him. 1968‘J. le Carré’ Small Town in Germany xiii. 214 ‘Praschko was up there, was he? In Berlin? With the Russians and Aickman?’ ‘Stable companions.’
1931Times Lit. Suppl. 25 June 502/3 His remarks on *stablecraft are also thoroughly sound. 1953G. Brooke (title) Introduction to riding and stablecraft.
1763Museum Rust. I. 257 Lime is a much sweeter manure than *stable-dung. 1842Loudon Suburban Hort. 65 Street manure..has been used in forcing-gardens as a substitute for tanners bark and stable-dung.
1862T. W. Harris Insects Injur. Vegetation (ed. 3) 16 The stinging *stable-flies (Stomoxys). 1884–5Riverside Nat. Hist. (1888) II. 430 A very common and wide-spread species is the stable-fly, Stomoxys calcitrans... The larvæ live in fresh horse manure. 1910Encycl. Brit. X. 584/1 The Stomoxys calcitrans, or stable-fly;..Muscina stabulans, another stable-fly.
c1485Digby Myst. ii. 120 Now, *stabyll grom, shortly bryng forth away The best horse. 1638Ford Lady's Trial ii. ii, And stable-grooms [have] reacht to some fair ones chambers.
1836Haliburton Clockm. Ser. i. xxii. (1862) 105 Give up blood horses to them that can afford to keep *stable-helps to tend 'em.
1807E. S. Barrett Rising Sun III. 30 Mrs. Secondhand..sent one of the *stable-helpers to fetch a chair.
1802C. James Milit. Dict., *Stable horse, Ind. That part of Tippoo Sultaun's cavalry, which was best armed, accoutred, and most regularly disciplined.
1810T. Holcroft's Mem. xii. (1856) 37 [The groom] was so attentive to *stable-hours, that..he was always to be found. 1844Regul. & Ord. Army 352 The face, eyes, and nostrils of each horse are to be washed with a sponge and sea-water, at the regular stable-hours.
c1440Promp. Parv. 471/2 *Stabul kepar, or hors kepar, stabularius. 1811Regul. & Ord. Army 161 The Hay and Straw for Horses in Quarters..are furnished by the Stable-Keepers, &c. on whom they are billeted.
1856‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rural Sports ii. i. ix. 352/2 Mischief..if not prevented will be indulged in by the *stable-lad towards his charge.
1856G. J. Whyte-Melville Kate Coventry xv, They were, what is termed in *stable language, very much above themselves.
1729Swift Direct. Serv. i. (1745) 32 Get the Cook, the House-maid, the *Stable-men, etc...to stand in his Way to the Hall in a Line.
1629J. Parkinson Parad. i. i. 2 Sandy loame..may soone be helped with old *stable manure of horses. 1864Trollope Small House at Allington II. xxx. 306 There was..a vexed question between Hopkins and Joliffe the bailiff on the matter of—stable manure. 1973‘I. Drummond’ Jaws of Watchdog vii. 95 Give it plenty of muck... Stable manure is the best.
1941Wyndham Lewis Let. May (1963) 288 The ‘practical politicians’ and..their *stable-mates the hardboiled business-men’ have somehow or other to be tamed. 1958Daily Sketch 2 June 15/3 Guersillus's stablemate, Paridel, will not now run in the Derby. 1979J. Leasor Love & Land Beyond i. 13, I run a stable mate of the Cord, an Auburn 851 cabriolet.
1786Burns To Auld Mare viii, When thou an' I were young an' skeigh An *stable-meals at fairs were dreigh.
1585Knaresb. Wills (Surtees) I. 150 To my brother..sufficient hay for his horse..and *stable roome in my stable. 1753Chambers' Cycl. Suppl., When there is stable-room enough partitions are to be made for several horses to stand in.
1838Dickens Nich. Nick. v, [He] then lounged *stablewards.
1703Lond. Gaz. No. 3899/4 Enquire at the *Stable Yard in St. Alban's street. 1837Dickens Pickw. xxiii, In the vicinity of the stable-yard..sat Mr. Weller senior.
▪ II. stable, n.2 Coal Mining.|ˈsteɪb(ə)l|
[Of uncertain origin: perh. the same word as prec.; cf. also staple n.4]
An excavation in a face to accommodate a coal-cutting machine or loader working into it. Also stable hole.
1906Trans. Inst. Mining Engin. XXXI. 401 Coal⁓cutters, which have a disc or a chain-jib fixed to their longitudinal centre, cannot cut close to the ends of the face, and require a stable-hole or heading to be driven in advance at each end. 1914G. L. Kerr Practical Coal-Mining (ed. 5) vi. 148 This avoids the necessity of making jib-holes or ‘stables’ at the start and finish of the cut. 1945Trans. Inst. Mining Engin. CIV. 209 Stables to a depth of at least twice the depth of the cut are required at each end of the face. 1968Economist 8 June 85/3 The great benefit of the machine is in avoiding the present concentration of men in the ‘stable hole’ the most dangerous part of the pit. 1973L. J. Thomas Introd. Mining vii. 278 A longwall face stable was necessary so that the face cutting and loading machinery could stand in it..while the face conveyor was pushed over.
▪ III. stable, a.|ˈsteɪb(ə)l|
Also 3 stabell, 3, 5 stabel, 3–6 stabul, stabil, 4, 6 stabile, 4–6 stabyll, 5 stabyl(le, stabull, 5–6 stabill, (sstabylle), 5 (Caxton) estable.
[a. OF. stable, estable (mod.F. stable):—L. stabilem f. sta- root of stāre to stand: see -ble. Cf. Sp. estable, Pg. estavel, It. stabile.
The L. adj. has two primary etymological meanings: (1) with passive force of the suffix, that a person or thing can stand upon, firm as a support or foundation; (2) actively, able to stand, not liable to fall, secure; also (esp. of persons) standing one's ground, not to be driven back, steadfast. In figurative uses these senses are often blended. The Eng. word has most of the meanings of the Latin.]
1. a. Able to remain erect; secure against falling or being overthrown.
a1300Cursor M. 10121 Do me to passe þe dikes ouer, Þar þe castel standes stable [v.r. stabil, stabul]. a1591H. Smith Serm. (1637) 268 He which is tottering himselfe, had neede leane unto a stable thing. 1872Blackie Lays Highl. 76 The master-builder-bold Who reared this stable pile. 1909C. C. Turner Aerial Navig. of To-day viii. (1910) 123 The bicycle is not stable. It depends upon motion and the manipulation of the handles.
fig.1599Davies Nosce Teipsum viii. xxxvii. (1714) 58 The perfect Angels were not stable, But had a Fall more desperate than we. 1869McLaren Serm. Ser. ii. vii. 120 If we are to be stable amidst earthquakes and storms, we must be built on the Rock and build rock-like upon it.
Comb.1725Armstrong Imit. Shaks. 185 That rock the stable-planted towers.
b. Of a support or foundation: Firm, not likely to give way. lit. and fig.
1340–70Alex. & Dind. 587 Ȝe were alle..bred of þat modur Þat is stable to stonde..And þe erþe is called. 1604Earl Stirling Aurora Song iii. D 1, Hauing followed ore the stable ground. 1788Priestley Lect. Hist. v. xlix. 364 The only stable foundation of most of the improvements in social life is Agriculture. 1801Strutt Sports & P. iii. i. 126 The ground within hard, stable, and level. 1811Pinkerton Petral. II. 338 Such pieces of scoriæ as..were capable of affording a stable support. 1820Scoresby Acc. Arctic Reg. I. 256 It often affords a stable mooring to a ship. 1845Darwin Voy. Nat. viii. (1879) 144 A government which as yet has never rested on any stable foundation. 1871Blackie Four Phases Morals i. 24 A stable physical platform to stand on.
c. Firm in consistency, solid. Now rare.
1666Boyle Orig. Formes & Qual. 76 The Texture, is..vnlesse it be very stable and permanent,..very much alter'd. Ibid. 422 Alterations..mixtures can perform among Bodies, both of them fluid, as well as among those that were either both of them stable, or one of them stable and the other consistent. 1691Ray Creation i. (1704) 70 Providence hath given to the solid and stable parts a two-fold Power. 1878Stevenson Inland Voy. 103 The shadows lay as solid on the swift surface of the stream as on the stable meadows.
2. Stationary, keeping to one place.
†a. of persons or their dwellings. Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 15154 Iesus þam prechand ilk a dai Stable in temple stod. 13..E.E. Allit. P. A. 597 He þat stod þe long day stable. 1422Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 215 Sum of the hoste shall stabill bene in oone Place. 1687P. Ayres Lyric Poems, ‘Spring’ (1906) 311 The stable mother [the sea] of those straggling sons [the rivers]. 1775R. Chandler Trav. Asia M. (1825) I. 136 A people..not forming villages or towns with stable habitations, but flitting from place to place.
b. Of material things: Not shifting or fluctuating in position.
1853Kane Grinnell Exp. xxxviii. (1856) 353 Some seventy miles from the nearest stable ice. 1861Buckle Civiliz. II. vii. 368 The surface of our planet, even where it appears perfectly stable is constantly undergoing most extensive changes. 1862Dana Man. Geol. 390 It, however, did not reach north to the Azoic of New York, which was still a portion of the stable part of the continent.
3. a. Of a material thing or its condition: Able to maintain its place or position; presenting resistance to displacement; not easily shaken or dislodged. stable equilibrium: see equilibrium 1.
1560Bible (Geneva) 1 Chron. xvi. 30 Surely the worlde shal be stable and not moue. 1829Nat. Philos., Mechanics i. iv. 18 (U.K.S.) Of these two positions in which it is possible for the body to rest, the former is called instable, and the latter stable, equilibrium. 1871B. Stewart Heat 45 That the particles may have time to assume their most stable position. 1889Welch Text Bk. Naval Archit. ii. 19 If a ship when slightly inclined in any particular direction from her position of rest returns towards that position when the inclining forces are removed, it is said to be in stable equilibrium.
b. Of a system of bodies: Having a permanent structure or constitution; not liable to disintegration.
1839Moseley Astron. lxxvii. (1854) 216 The system of Planets is stable, the System of Comets is unstable. 1845Whewell Indic. Creator 52 The state of the solar system is stable.
c. Of a chemical compound or combination: Not at once decomposing.
stable dextrin: the fifth or remaining amylin group after the other four amylin groups in starch have been split off by the action of diastene.
1850Daubeny Atom. Theory vii. (ed. 2) 190 These compounds are..much less stable, being decomposed by very slight causes. 1862Spencer First Princ. ii. xiii. §101 (1875) 293 Stable compounds contain comparatively little molecular motion. 1900Jrnl. Soc. Dyers XVI. 6 Causing the indigo white to separate out in a stable condition.
d. Nucl. Physics. Of an isotope: not subject to spontaneous radio-active decay, or decaying only very slowly.
1904F. Soddy Radio-Activity viii. 126 The elements known to the chemist are stable because they exist and have survived. 1924O. Lodge Atoms & Rays ii. 30 Even uranium is not quite stable... The element with 82 active pairs [of electrons] would be fairly or perhaps quite stable, and would be indistinguishable from lead. 1942J. D. Stranathan ‘Particles’ of Mod. Physics v. 167 Those elements with the greatest number of stable isotopes are Sn with 10 and Xe with 9. 1956Nature 28 Jan. 159/2 Long-lived aluminium-26 may easily be confused with the stable aluminium-27 as product nucleus. 1977J. L. Harper Population Biol. of Plants xi. 365 Small amounts of 15N, a stable isotope, had been applied to the soil.
4. Not liable to fail or vary.
a. Of government, institutions, customs, etc.: Securely established; not liable to destruction or essential change. Often with fig. notion of 1.
c1290St. Oswold 5 in S. Eng. Leg. 45 For he was king are cristindom puyrliche stable were. 1390Gower Conf. III. 233 Thei [pity and justice]..ben of vertu most vailable To make a kinges regne stable. c1520Nisbet N.T., Epist. O. Test. (S.T.S.) III. 277 And thar salbe na mark nor na terme of his kingdom, and he sal mak it stabile in the wed of beleue. 1574Mirr. Mag., Albanact lvi, But..as no state can stable stande for aye. c1610Women Saints 37 It was thought that this new kingdome would not be stable and firme for long continuance, vnlesse they had wiues of their owne nation. 1849–50Alison Hist. Europe I. iv. §18. 446 Men..deemed present institutions stable, because they had never seen them shaken. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. v. 412 His kingdom demanded the security of a stable succession. 1911Seligmann Veddas i. 25 Vijaya found some sort of stable political organization on his arrival in the island [of Ceylon].
†b. Of a law, covenant, promise, etc.: Firm, not to be repealed or retracted. Phrases, to hold (something) stable, to stand stable. Obs.
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 6430 Þis word was iholde stable & iloked uor dom. c1386Chaucer Clerk's T. 663 But now I woot youre lust and what ye wolde Al youre plesance ferme and stable I holde. c1450Godstow Reg. 31 Holdynge ferme & stable what euyr he wolde do ther-with, & neuyr to haue more clayme, ne eny of hys eyrys, for euyr-more. 1464Rolls of Parlt. V. 529/2 That almaner Yeftes and Grauntes..made, stand ferme and stable. 1474Caxton Chesse ii. i. (1883) 21 Therfore hym ought to saye no thynge but yf hit were veritable and stable. 1533City Lond. Let. Bk. O lf. 213 in Vicary's Anat. (1888) App. xiv. 264 This present graunte..shall..be contynewed ferme and stable as concernyng the sayde Barbour-surgeons. 1543–4Act 35 Hen. VIII, c. 9 The which order..shall stande firme and stable, and for a full determinate order. 1759in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874) 65 All which I oblige me to hold firm and stable without revocation.
†c. Of faith, resolve, love, friendship, etc.: Not changing, constant. Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 26158 We hope he sal haue for-giuenes, For þe trouth and stabil fai Þat he was in in his last dai. c1340Hampole Prose Treat. 7 And for-thy I had na stabyll purpos in gude, na perfite contrycyone. 1402Hoccleve Let. Cupid 447 In womman regneth stable constance. c1450Mirk's Festial 74 Full contricion wyth schryft, full charite wythout feynyng, and stabull fayth wythout flateryng. 1549–62Sternhold & H. Ps. li. 10 (2nd vers.) Within my bowels Lord, renue a stable sprite. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 484 There shal be from henceforward..stable friendship, betwene the same realmes. c1610Women Saints 51 An husband immortall, whose death may not grieue me, and whose loue shall be constant and stable.
†d. Of counsel, judgement, intellect: Trustworthy, sound. Obs.
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1245, & as he & is conseil stable conseil nome Þe lettres he sende to Iuli þe emperour of rome. Ibid. 11489. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1423 Yche wegh þat is wise & of wit stable. 1477Norton Ordin. Alch. i. in Ashm. (1652) 14 For his Trewth, Vertue, and for his stable Witt.
e. Of a doctrine, theory, conclusion: Securely established, not likely to be disproved or found wanting.
1480Caxton Myrr. i. xiii. 42 Thus ben not the sciences muable but alleway ben estable and trewe. 1862Ruskin Unto this Last Pref., It was..the first object of these papers to give an accurate and stable definition of wealth. 1891Hardwicke's Sci. Gossip XXVII. 73/1 Even if with further research it led to no good and stable result.
† f. Permanent; of durable nature or quality.
a1300Cursor M. 26770 Bot þat þi stabil pes mai last To crist þou hald þi penance fast. c1400tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 57 Gete þe stabyl richesse, a lyf þat may noght be chaungyd, a kyngdome ay lastand dilatable. Ibid. 62 Brekand allyance stabyl ffor welfare and profyt of men. 1617Moryson Itin. iii. 113 They bestow their money in stable things, to serve their posteritie. c1645Howell Lett. (1655) I. iv. vii. 172, I am not setled yet in any stable condition, but I lie Windbound at the Cape of Good Hope. 1660Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) xiii. 615/1 Some pertain..to..the pleasure which consists in motion; others to felicity itself, (as that of indolence and tranquility or stable pleasure). 1683Snape Anat. Horse (1686) App. i. i. 11 At the end of the fourth day, the Stalk tending upwards, (the outer or Sheath-leaf being loosened) puts forth the Stable-leaf [L. folium stabile] that is green and folded. 1742Young Nt. Th. i. 168 How I dreamt Of stable pleasures on the tossing wave?
†g. Of a language: Having fixed meanings. Obs. rare.
1679Dryden Troilus & Cr. Ep. Ded., I am often put to a stand..And have no other way to clear my doubts, but by translating my English into Latine, and thereby trying what sence the words will bear in a more stable language.
†h. Math. = constant a. 5. Obs.
1727–41Chambers Cycl. s.v. Calculus, Stable Quantities being always express'd by the first Letters of the alphabet.
i. Of properties, movements, agencies, etc.: Persisting without essential or permanent change of character.
1742Hume Ess. & Treat. (1777) I. 115 When the event is supposed to proceed from certain and stable causes. 1878Tait & Stewart Unseen Univ. vi. §179. 182 Two kinds, one of which makes use of the stable forces of nature and the other of the unstable. 1884tr. Lotze's Logic 32 In..metal where there is no difficulty in regarding the marks of colour, brilliancy, and hardness as stable properties of that which they describe.
j. Of animal or vegetable species: Unvarying.
1889A. R. Wallace Darwinism (1890) 42 Wild animals and plants, it is said, are usually stable.
†5. Of look or countenance: Steady, unabashed.
c1440Generydes 1988 Beholdyng them with countenaunce right stabill. c1475Babees Bk. 65 And yf they speke withe yow at youre komynge, Withe stable Eye loke vpone theym Rihte. 1635R. N. tr. Camden's Hist. Eliz. iii. 329 The Queene of Scots..with a stable and stedfast countenance..gave thanks to God.
6. Of persons and their dispositions.
a. Steadfast in purpose or resolution; settled in character, not fickle, changeable, or frivolous. In early use also, † Trustworthy, sound in counsel or judgement. Phrase, † to stand stable.
a1275Prov. Alfred 673 in O.E. Misc., Ac nim þe to þe a stable mon, Þat word and dede bi-sette con. c1290Beket 240 in S. Eng. Leg. 113 Of þe Ercedekne Thomas, Men tolden him sone i-nouȝ, hov he was stable Man and wis, and to alle guodnesse drouȝ. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. x. 110 Hold þe stable and studefast And strengþe þi-seluen. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. vi. xii. (1495) 196 Men ben more wyse and wytty, more stedfaste and stable than wymmen. c1400Rule St. Benet, Ord. Nuns 142 To þam þat..standis stabill in-to þe purpose þat þa be-gane, it is [etc.]. c1450Holland Howlat 174 Stable and steidfast, tender and trewe. 1500Ortus Vocab., Continens, stable or chaste. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xx. 43 Hald God thy freind, evir stabill be him stand. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 86 b, Let vs be stable and neuer loke backwarde agayne to the worlde. 1588A. King tr. Canisius Catech. 46 It is the Apostolicke doctrine, to stand firme, and stabill in ye traditions also quhilk ar nocht within.
†b. const. of, in (thoughts, purposes, words, etc.): cf. senses 4 c, 4 d. Obs.
c1290St. Michael 675 in S. Eng. Leg. 319 Ho so hath of þe eorþe mest he is slouȝ ase þe Asse,..Sone old and nouȝt willesfol stable and studefast of mod. c1320Cast. Love 384 Þou art also so trewe a kyng, And stable of þouȝt in alle þyng. a1375Joseph Arim. 245 Bote beo ȝe stable in oure fei and foloweþ vre werkes. c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) xxxi. 139 All gude Cristen men, þat er stable in þe faith, may ga in to þat valay. c1400Destr. Troy 10654 Ector..was stithist of stoure, stabill of hert. c1477Caxton Jason 97 Considering the..promesse that he had made with Medea [Jason] abode ferme and stable in his firste purpoos. c1500Lancelot 1671 And of thi wordis beis trew and stable. 1552Bk. Com. Prayer, Ordering of Deacons, Continuing euer stable and strong in thy sonne Christe. 1678Bunyan Pilgr. i. 34 Things to make me stable In what I have began to take in hand.
†c. Constant in affection. Const. to. Obs.
13..Cato 214 in Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. 570 Hose feyneþ him frend with word And not wiþ herte stable. c1374Chaucer Compl. Mars 281 Ye, my ladyes, that ben true and stable. c1386― Clerk's T. 931 And to hire housbonde euere meke and stable. 1390Gower Conf. II. 16 The god of love is favorable To hem that ben of love stable.
†d. In a bad sense: Persistent. Obs.
c1440Promp. Parv. 471/2 Stable, and a-bydyng yn malyce, pervicax, pertinax.
†e. Strong, capable of endurance. Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 13 His [sc. King Arthur's] knythes..Als wawan, cai, and other stabell. 13..Evang. Nicod. 150 (MS. Harley) He bad þam tak men more myghty, Strang and stabyll of state. c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 98 Holy Helyas..Made stronge in spirite fourty dayes went In his journay, the brede made hym so stable. c1470Gol. & Gaw. 741 Ane sterne knyght, stalwart and stabill.
† f. Of God or a deity: Unchangeable. Obs.
c1385Chaucer L.G.W. 346 A god ne sholde nat be thus agreued But of hys deitee he shal be stable. c1386― Frankl. T. 143 That semen rather a foul confusion Of werk than any fair creacion Of swich a parfit wys god and a stable. 1700Dryden Pal. & Arc. iii. 1046 He perfect, stable; but imperfect We, Subject to Change, and diff'rent in Degree.
▪ IV. † stable, v.1 Obs.
Also 3–4 stablen, 3–6 stabil, 3, 5–6 stabul, 4 stabil(l)e, 4–5 stabel, stabulle, 4–6 stabill, -yl, -yll(e, (stabelyn).
[Variant of estable v., a. OF. establir:—L. stabilīre, f. stabili-s stable a. Cf. establish, stablish vbs.]
1. a. trans. To make stable, in various senses; to strengthen, render firm or fixed; to render steadfast; to bring into a secure or permanent condition; to confirm, ratify.
a1300Birth of Jesus 110 in Horstm. Alteng. Leg. (1875) 70 (Ashm. MS.) Vche ȝer also ioachim to þe temple wende Þre siþe, to stable [v.r. stablen] his biheste, ȝif god him eny sende. a1300Cursor M. 19262 Cristen kirc, þan it bigan, Yeit was it noght stablid [Fairf. stabeled] þan. 1338R. Brunne Chron. (1725) 244 Wardeyns gode he sette, to stabille þe lond. c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 178 Þis bileve shulde stable men to stonde stifly in Goddis cause. c1386Chaucer Merch. T. 1161 (Harl. MS. 1758) Till that your sight stablid [v.rr. y-stabled, I-stabled, ysatled] be a while Ther may full many a sight you be-gile. a1400–50Bk. Curtasye 169 in Babees Bk., When þou ministers at þe heghe autere, With bothe hondes þou serue þo prest in fere, Þe ton to stabulle þe toþer Lest þou fayle, my dere broþer. c1400Beryn 1976 Sith I the fynde in suche plyte, our bargain for to stabill, Wee woll tofore þe Steward, þere we both shull have riȝte. c1400Love Bonavent. Mirr. (1907) 212 In feithe also he enformed hem and stabled hem more perfitely in byleue of his godhede. c1440Promp. Parv. 471/2 S(t)abelyn, or make stable and stede..stabilio, solido. c1450Myrr. our Ladye 297 Forsothe god hathe stabeled the erthe whiche shall not be meued. c1485Digby Myst. (1882) ii. 569 Stabyll your syghtes, and look ye not stunt. 1501–2Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. II. 140 To David Grame, to pas to Glasgo to stabill his procuratouris and to mak his expens on his pley, lvj s. 1538Starkey England i. ii. 42 Man, stablyd and confyrmyd wyth perfayt and sure hope. 1545T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde 148 To stable & stedfast the teathe and to kepe the gumms in good case.
b. To base or ground (an argument, etc.) upon.
1521Fisher Serm. agst. Luther i. Wks. (1876) 313, The fyrst .iij. instruccyons..shall vndermyne .iij. great groundes wher vpon Martyn doth stable in maner all his articles.
2. To put or set up in a certain position or place, or in a safe or firm place. to stable up: to collect and place; pass. to have taken one's stand.
a1300Cursor M. 24628 Fra me ne wald þai na wight tuin, Til i com til mi cosin in, Þar stabild þai mi stall. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xliv. (Lucy) 163 My patrimone haf I stablit in sa sekire place quhare foule corrupcion neuir ves. a1400–50Wars Alex 1091 May þou oȝt, lede, þe ȝonder lawe lyft on þi schulder, And stire it oute of þe stede & stable in a-nothire? Ibid. 1367 To stable vp a grete strenthe all on store schipis, Hugir be þe halfe dele & hiȝere þan þe toþire. c1475Hunting Hare 109 When that ye bin stabult up, I wylle ryde and putt her [the hare] vp.
3. To ordain permanently, establish, fix, institute; to appoint, settle.
a1300Cursor M. 25429 Þou þat has þis werld all wroght, And stabuld it in skill. 1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 1604 Þys [sixth] comaundment ys of prys, For hyt was stabled yn paradys. 1389in Eng. Gilds (1870) 54 In septembre yis fraternite is funded & stabeled. 1423City Lond. Cal. Let. Bk. I (1909) 294 It is ordeyned and stabled that payement be made anon upon such purveaunce made. 1516in Eng. Gilds (1870) 328 Be hit [the ordinance] ordeynyd and stablyd, by þ⊇ M. and Wardens. 1538Starkey England i. i. 16 The same law..ys so stablyd and set, that [etc.]. 1538Elyot Dict., Statuo, to ordayne, to determyne, to set faste, to stable a thinge.
4. a. To establish, install or secure in a possession, office, or dignity, etc.
1300–1400R. Glouc. (Rolls) App. xx. 400 Þis king duc henri to sone þo nom & stablede him þer his eir of þis kinedom. a1340Hampole Ps. ii. 6, I am stabild kynge [Vulg. constitutus sum rex]. 1473Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879) I. 190 Gif he thinks he ma do better to stabil hym in othir placis. 1513Douglas æneis v. xii. 182 Ane hallowit schaw..as sanctuar, Plantit thai haif, and stabillit preistis thair.
b. To secure to (a person, or oneself).
1536Bellenden Cron. Scot. iii. vii. (1821) I. 87 This Guiderius, seing the realme stabillit to him, thocht hevy, that the Britonis suld leif under servitude of Romanis. Ibid. vi. xvii. 238 We mon othir be vincust..or ellis to be victouris, and stabill oure landis to us with glore, honoure, and permanent eis.
5. ? To hold fast.
c1440York Myst. xxiii. 187 Sir, oure strength myght not stabill tham stille. a1593Marlowe Ovid's Elegies i. ix. 39 Mars in the deed the black-smithes net did stable.
6. intr.
a. To come to a stand, cease from action; to refrain (from tears).
1377Langl. P. Pl. B. i. 120 Til god of his goodnesse gan stable [v.r. stablisse] and stynte. c1400Destr. Troy 3386 Who might stithly absteyne, or stable of teris, Þat prestly were pricket with paynes so fele?
b. To become stable.
1399Langl. Rich. Redeles i. 10 Of alegeaunce now lerneth a lesson oþer tweyne Wher-by it standith and stablithe moste—By drede, or by dyntis or domes vntrewe [etc.]. Ibid. iii. 249 Iche rewme vndir roff of þe reyne-bowe Sholde stable and stonde be þese þre degres.
▪ V. stable, v.2|ˈsteɪb(ə)l|
Also 5 stabel, 5–6 stabil, (6 stabble).
[f. stable n.1 Cf. OF. establer (perh. the source); also L. stabulāre, -ārī intr.]
1. trans. To put (a horse) into a stable, or into a place which is used as a stable. Formerly also with up (rare). Also transf.
13..Coer de L. 6770 At the gate he sette porters, And stablede up hys destrers. c1380Sir Ferumb. 3753 Wan þay had mad fast aboute & y-stablyd þe stede. 1475Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 75 He on a tyme..stabled his hors in Salamon is Temple. 1513Douglas æneis vi. iv. 102 The Centawris wer stabillit at this port. 1557Tusser 100 Points Husb. xxxviii, When pasture is gone,..then stable thy plough horse. 1598Sylvester Du Bartas ii. ii. iv. Columnes 461 Stabbling Thy smoaking Coursers under th' Earth, to bait. 1601Holland Pliny viii. xliii. I. 223 Wheresoever they [asses] bee stabled, they love to lie at large and have roume ynough. 1688Clayton in Phil. Trans. XVIII. 121 They never Shoe them, nor Stable them in general. a1791Lochmaben Harper iv. in Child Ballads IV. 18/2 Gae stable up the harper's mare. 1820Scott Monast. xiv, Art thou there, old Truepenny? here, stable me these steeds, and see them well bedded. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 293 A third could never go into his parish church without being reminded..that Oliver's redcoats had once stabled their horses there. 1890‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 117 As soon as I have stabled the horses.
transf.c1957–8E. M. Forster Life to Come (1972) 175 British officers are never stabled with dagoes, never, it was too damn awkward for words. 1962Daily Tel. 8 Jan. 15/7 The possibility of ‘stabling’ Underground trains in the tunnels instead of in the open at depots during periods of severe icy weather..unfortunately is unworkable.
b. Of a building: To afford stabling for.
1903S. G. Tallentyre Voltaire xxxii. (1905) 338 An immense barn which stabled fifty cows and their calves.
2. intr. Of an animal: To live in a stable.
1508Extracts Burgh Rec. Edin. (1869) I. 117 With..sufficient lokkis..for thair duris, for the sure keping of the hors that stabillis with thame. 1601Holland Pliny iv. xi. I. 78 There, stood the towne Tinda, terrible for the horses of Diomedes that stabled there. 1878R. B. Smith Carthage xxi. 423 The domestic animals of the Arabs are found stabling in the very buildings which may once, perhaps, have sheltered the Carthaginian Elephants.
b. transf. To live as in a stable.
1651N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. ii. xxx. 239 Forgetting their ancient yoke fellows the rural Presbyters, they stable with the King. 1667Milton P.L. xi. 748 In thir Palaces..Sea-monsters whelp'd And stabl'd. 1774J. Bryant Mythol. I. 470 All the monsters of the sea stabled in the cavities at the foot the mountain. 1817Shelley Revolt Islam ii. iv, Tyrants dwelt side by side, And stabled in our homes. 1909R. Bridges Ibant obscuri Poet. Wks. (1913) 449 [æneid vi. 286] And many strange creatures of monstrous form and features Stable about th' entrance.
†3. To turn into a stable. Obs. rare—1.
1649J. Taylor (Water P.) Wand. West 19 Exeter..is a faire sweete City, a goodly Cathedrall Church (not yet quite spoyled or stabled).
▪ VI. † ˈstable, v.3 Obs.
[Perh. f. stable a. (in sense 2, stationary); but cf. the later stabble v., which has some affinity of sense.]
pass. and refl. To stick fast in the mud. Also fig. Obs.
In quot. 1640 app. associated with stable v.2
1569Campton Hist. Irel. ii. ix. (1633) 113 This is a doughty kinde of accusation, which they urge against mee, wherein they are stabled and myred at my first denyall. 1598Florio Dict. Ep. Ded. 3, I many times in many words haue beene so stal'd and stabled. 1627Drayton Moon-calf, Batt. Agincourt, etc. 184 They..In the stiffe mud are quickly stabled fast. 1629Gaule Holy Madn. 196 Thoul't either jade, or stable thyselfe. 1640E. Dacres tr. Machiavelli's Prince 268 The bottom proving rotten and miry, some of the Horse came over and over on their riders, and many stuck so fast in the mud that they were there stabled.
▪ VII. stable
obs. form of staple.
▪ VIII. stable
variant of stably n. Obs. |