stay
UK: steɪ | US: steɪ
v. to remain in a specific place or condition
v. to temporarily live somewhere as a guest or visitor
n. a period of time spent in a place
n. a support or brace (e.g., in architecture)
The word "stay" originates from Old French estayer (to support, hold up), which itself derives from Latin stare (to stand). The core morpheme "st-" reflects the Indo-European root sta- (to stand), shared by words like "stand," "stable," and "statue." Over time, "stay" evolved from the literal sense of "supporting" (e.g., a structure) to the abstract idea of "remaining in place." The obsolete suffix "-ay" (from Old French) no longer carries independent meaning in Modern English.
She decided to stay at home during the storm.
We stayed in a charming hotel for the weekend.
His stay in Paris lasted three months.
The ship's mast was reinforced with a sturdy stay.
Can you stay calm under pressure?