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.
Sta"ble, v. t. To fix; to
establish. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Sta"ble, n. [OF. estable, F.
étable, 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 (Zoöl.), 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.
Sta"ble, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Stabled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Stabling (?).] To put or keep in a stable.
Sta"ble, v. i. To dwell or lodge in
a stable; to dwell in an inclosed place; to kennel.
Milton.
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.
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.
Sta"ble, v. t. To fix; to
establish. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Sta"ble, n. [OF. estable, F.
étable, 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 (Zoöl.), 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.
Sta"ble, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Stabled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Stabling (?).] To put or keep in a stable.
Sta"ble, v. i. To dwell or lodge in
a stable; to dwell in an inclosed place; to kennel.
Milton.
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.
