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Webster 1913 Edition

Stable

Sta′ble

(stā′b’l)
,
Adj.
[OF.
estable
, F.
stable
, fr. L.
stabilis
, fr.
stare
to stand. See
Stand
,
Verb.
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 equilibrium
(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

,
Verb.
T.
To fix; to establish.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.

Sta′ble

,
Noun.
[OF.
estable
, F.
étable
, from L.
stabulum
, fr.
stare
to stand. See
Stand
,
Verb.
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
(Zool.)
,
a common dipterous fly (
Stomoxys calcitrans
) which is abundant about stables and often enters dwellings, especially in autumn; called also
biting house fly
. These flies, unlike the common house flies, which they resemble, bite severely, and are troublesome to horses and cattle. They differ from the larger
horse fly
.

Sta′ble

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Stabled
(-b’ld)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Stabling
(-blĭng)
.]
To put or keep in a stable.

Sta′ble

,
Verb.
I.
To dwell or lodge in a stable; to dwell in an inclosed place; to kennel.
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Stable

STABLE

,
Adj.
[L. The primary sense is set, fixed. See Stab.]
1.
Fixed; firmly established; not to be easily moved, shaken or overthrown; as a stable government.
2.
Steady in purpose; constant; firm in resolution; not easily diverted from a purpose; not fickle or wavering; as a stable man; a stable character.
3.
Fixed; steady; firm; not easily surrendered or abandoned; as a man of stable principles.
4.
Durable; not subject to be overthrown or changed.
In this region of chance and vanity, where nothing is stable--

STABLE

,
Verb.
T.
To fix; to establish. [Not used.]

STABLE

,
Noun.
[L., a stand, a fixed place, like stall. See the latter. These words do not primarily imply a covering for horses or cattle.] A house or shed for beasts to lodge and feed in. In large towns, a stable is usually a building for horses only, or horses and cows, and often connected with a coach house. In the country towns in the northern states of America, a stable is usually an apartment in a barn in which hay and grain are deposited.

STABLE

,
Verb.
T.
To put or keep in a stable. Our farmers generally stable not only horses, but oxen and cows in winter, and sometimes young cattle.

STABLE

,
Verb.
I.
To dwell or lodge in a stable; to dwell in an inclosed place; to kennel.

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