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S T A 
S T A 
Any thing placed as a palisade or fence. 
That halloo I should know: what are you, speak ? 
Come not too near, you fall on iron stakes else. Milton. 
The post to which a beast is tied to be baited. 
Have you not set mine honour at the stake. 
And baited it with all the unmuzzled thoughts 
That tyrannous heart can think ? Shakspeare. 
Any thing pledged or wagered. I know not well whence 
it has this meaning: I suppose it is so named from being at 
stake, that is, in a state of hazard, like an animal baited, and 
in hazard from which it cannot be withdrawn. Dr. Johnson. 
—It is more probably from the Teutonic steckcn, to fix; 
whence to set out or settle. 
The increasing sound is borne to either shore, 
And for their stakes the throwing nations fear. Dryden. 
The state of being hazarded, pledged or wagered.—Every 
moment Cato’s life’s at stake. Addison. —The stake is a 
small anvil, which stands upon a small iron foot on the 
work-bench, to remove as occasion offers; or else it hath a 
strong iron spike at the bottom let into some place of the 
work bench, not to be removed. Its office is to set small 
cold work straight upon, or to cut or punch upon with the 
c old chisel or cold punch. Moxon. 
To STAKE, v. a. To fasten, support or defend with 
posts set upright.— Stake and bind up your weakest plants 
and flowers against the winds, before they in a moment 
prostrate a whole year’s labour. Evt/yit .—To wager; to 
hazard; to put to hazard.—Persons after their prisons have 
been flung open, have chosen rather to languish in their 
dungeons than stake their miserable lives on the success of a 
revolution. Addison. 
STALACTITES, s. [from ;a/.os<?«, Gr.] Stalactites is 
only spar in the shape of an icicle, accidentally formed in 
the perpendicular fissures of the stone. Woodward. 
STALA'CTICAL, adj. Resembling an icicle.—A cave 
was lined with those stalacticat stones on the top and sides. 
Derham. 
STALA'GMITES, s. Spar formed into the shape of 
drops. Woodward. 
STALBRIDGE, a market town of England, in the 
county of Dorset, situated near the banks of the river Stour. 
The whole parish lies on a rocky bottom, whence the 
vicinity is supplied in great abundance with building stones. 
The manufacture of stockings is also carried on here to a 
considerable extent. Here is a large ancient church and a 
charily school. In the centre of the town is a neat stone 
cross, which, including the base, is 30 feet high. At the 
top is a square block, with four niches. Those on the east 
and west fronts have the crucifixion, with the Virgin and St. 
John. On this block stood a cross, and from the top of 
the freestone of the pyramid, to the hole in which this cross 
was fixed, the height is 10 feet. At the bottom of this 
block are several coats of arms. The pyramid itself is 12 feet 
high, and all the angles are fluted. On one side of it is 
a defaced figure of our Saviour, with a lamb at his feet. 
The four sides of the base are adorned with bas-reliefs, one 
of which seems to represent the resurrection of Christ, who 
holds a cross in his hand. The whole stands on three octa¬ 
gon flights of steps, each diminishing in the ascent. The 
manor of Stalbridge belonged at onetime to the celebrated 
philosopher Robert Boyle, who resided and studied here 
in the early part of his life. In 1811, the parish of Stal¬ 
bridge contained 141 houses, and 890 inhabitants. Market 
on Monday, and two annual fairs; 9 miles east of Sher- 
bourne, and 112 west-south-west of London. 
STALE, adj. [ stel, Teut.] Old; long kept; altered by 
by time. Stale is not used of persons otherwise than in con¬ 
tempt; when it is applied to beer, it commonly means worse 
for age.—Nappy ale, good and stale. Old Ballad of the 
King and Miller of Mans field. —Used till it is of no use or 
esteem ; worn out of regard or notice.—The duke regarded 
not the muttering multitude, knowing that rumours grow 
stale and vanish with time. Hayward. 
STALE, s. [from ptaelan, Sax., to steal.'] Something 
exhibited or offered as an allurement to draw others to any 
place or purpose; a decoy. 
Had he none else to make a stale but me ? 
I was the chief that rais’d him to the crown, 
And I’ll be chief to bring him down again. Shakspeare. 
In Shakspeare, it seems to signify a prostitute. 
I stand dishonour’d, that have gone about 
To link my dear friend to a common stale. Shakspeare. 
[static, Teut., urina.] Urine; old urine.—The smell of 
stale, as I observed before, is admirable against the vapours f 
Swift. — Old beer; beer somewhat acidulated. — [stele, 
Dutch, a stick.] A handle. 
But, seeing th’ arrowes stale without, and that the head did 
g°e 
No further then it might be seene, he call’d his spirits again. 
Chapman. 
At the game of chess applied to the king, when he is forced 
into a situation from which he cannot move without going 
into check: by which the game is ended.—They stand at 
stay, like a stale chess, where it is no mate, but the game 
cannot stir. Bacon. 
To STALE, v. a. To wear out; to make old. Not now 
in use. 
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale 
Her infinite variety. Shakspeare . 
To STALE, v. n. [stallen, Teut., stal/are, Ital.] To 
make water. 
Having ty’d his beast t’ a pale, 
And taken time for both to stale. JJudibras. 
STA'LELY, adv. Of old; long time. 
All your promis’d mountains 
And seas I am so stalely acquainted with. B. Jonson. 
STA'LENESS, s. Oldness; state of being long kept; 
state of being corrupted by time.—Provided our landlord’s 
principles were sound, we did not take any notice of the 
stateness of his provisions. Addison. 
STALHAM, a parish of England, in Norfolk; 7 miles 
south-east of North Walsham. Population 471. 
STALISFIELD, a parish of England, in Kent; 2 miles 
north-north-east of Charing. 
To STALK, v. n. [ptselcan. Sax. pedetentum ire. Ori¬ 
ginally, our word meant to step slowly. “ To the bedde he 
stalketh sty lie.” Gower, Corf Am. —“Fill thefely gan he 
stalke." Chaucer, Leg. of Good Women.] To walk with 
high and superb steps. It is used commonly in a sense of 
dislike. 
Vexatious thought still found my flying mind, 
Nor bound by limits, nor to place confin'd; 
Haunted by nights, and territy’d my days; 
Stalk'd through my gardens, and pursu’d my ways, 
Nor shut from artful bow’r, nor lost in winding maze. 
Prior. 
It is often used with some insinuation of contempt or 
abhorrence. 
Bert ran 
Stalks close behind her, like a witch’s fiend 
Pressing to be employed. Drydem 
To walk behinda stalking horse or cover.—The king asked 
how far it was to a certain town : they said six miles. Half 
an hour alter lie asked again : one said six miles and a half. 
The king alighted out of his coach, and crept under the 
shoulder of his led horse: and when some asked his majesty 
what he meant, I must stalk, said he; for yonder town is 
shy, and flies me. Bacon. 
STALK, s. High, proud, wide, and stately step. 
Great Milton next, with high and haughty stalls, 
Unfetter’d in majestic numbers walks. Addison. 
STALK, s. [Mr. H. Tooke considers this word as the 
participle 
