Hypertext Webster Gateway: "stable"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Stable \Sta"ble\, a. (Physics)
So placed as to resist forces tending to cause motion; of
such structure as to resist distortion or molecular or
chemical disturbance; -- said of any body or substance.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Stable \Sta"ble\, v. t.
To fix; to establish. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Stable \Sta"ble\, n. [OF. estable, F. ['e]table, from L.
stabulum, fr. stare to stand. See {Stand}, v. i.]
A house, shed, or building, for beasts to lodge and feed in;
esp., a building or apartment with stalls, for horses; as, a
horse stable; a cow stable. --Milton.
{Stable fly} (Zo["o]l.), a common dipterous fly ({Stomoxys
calcitrans}) which is abundant about stables and often
enters dwellings, especially in autumn. These files,
unlike the common house files, which they resemble, bite
severely, and are troublesome to horses and cattle.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Stable \Sta"ble\, a. [OE. estable, F. stable, fr. L. stabilis,
fr. stare to stand. See {Stand}, v. i. and cf. {Establish}.]
1. Firmly established; not easily moved, shaken, or
overthrown; fixed; as, a stable government.
In this region of chance, . . . where nothing is
stable. --Rogers.
2. Steady in purpose; constant; firm in resolution; not
easily diverted from a purpose; not fickle or wavering;
as, a man of stable character.
And to her husband ever meek and stable. --Chaucer.
3. Durable; not subject to overthrow or change; firm; as, a
stable foundation; a stable position.
{Stable equibrium} (Mech.), the kind of equilibrium of a body
so placed that if disturbed it returns to its former
position, as in the case when the center of gravity is
below the point or axis of support; -- opposed to
{unstable equilibrium}, in which the body if disturbed
does not tend to return to its former position, but to
move farther away from it, as in the case of a body
supported at a point below the center of gravity. Cf.
{Neutral equilibrium}, under {Neutral}.
Syn: Fixed; steady; constant; abiding; strong; durable; firm.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Stable \Sta"ble\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stabled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Stabling}.]
To put or keep in a stable.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Stable \Sta"ble\, v. i.
To dwell or lodge in a stable; to dwell in an inclosed place;
to kennel. --Milton.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
stable
adj 1: resistant to change of position or condition; "a stable
ladder"; "a stable peace"; "a stable relationship";
"stable prices" [ant: {unstable}]
2: firm and dependable; subject to little fluctuation; "the
economy is stable"
3: not taking part readily in chemical change
4: maintaining equilibrium
5: showing little if any change; "a static population" [syn: {static},
{unchanging}]
n : a farm building for housing horses or other livestock [syn:
{stalls}, {horse barn}]
v : shelter in a stable; "stable horses"
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