a building for the lodging and feeding of horses, cattle, etc.
2.
such a building with stalls.
3.
a collection of animals housed in such a building.
4.
Horse Racing.
a.
an establishment where racehorses are kept and trained.
b.
the horses belonging to, or the persons connected with, such an establishment.
5.
Informal.
a.
a number of people, usually in the same profession, who are employed, trained, or represented by the same company, agency, manager, etc.: a comedy show with a large stable of writers.
b.
the establishment that trains or manages such a group of people: two boxers from the same stable.
c.
a collection of items produced by or belonging to an establishment, industry, profession, or the like: The American auto industry has some new small cars in its stable.
–verb (used with object)
6.
to put or lodge in or as if in a stable.
–verb (used without object)
7.
to live in or as if in a stable.
[Origin: 1200–50; ME stable < OF estable < L stabulum standing room, equiv. to sta-, s. of stāre to stand+ -bulum n. suffix denoting place]
"building where horses or cows are kept," c.1250, "building for domestic animals," from O.Fr. estable "a stable, stall" (also applied to cowsheds and pigsties), from L. stabulum "a stall, fold, aviary, etc." lit. "a standing place," from stem of stare "to stand" (see stet). Meaning "collection of horses belonging to one stable is attested from 1576; transf. sense of "group of fighters under same management" is from 1897; that of "group of prostitutes working for the same employer" is from 1937.
"For what the grete Stiede Is stole, thanne he taketh hiede, And makth the stable dore fast." [John Gower, "Confessio Amantis," 1390]
"steadfast, firm," c.1275, from O.Fr. estable, from L. stabilis "firm, steadfast," lit. "able to stand," from stem of stare "to stand" (see stet). Physical sense of "secure against falling" is recorded from c.1300. Of nuclear isotopes, from 1904.
Not susceptible to a process of decay, such as radioactivity. For example, the most common isotope of carbon, carbon 12, is stable. Protons and photons are examples of stable subatomic particles. See more at decay.
Relating to a chemical compound that does not easily decompose or change into other compounds. Water is an example of a stable compound.
Relating to an atom or chemical element that is unlikely to share electrons with another atom or element.
Not likely to change significantly or to deteriorate suddenly, as an individual's medical condition.
Con"sta*ble\ (k[u^]n"st[.a]*b'l), n. [OE. conestable, constable, a constable (in sense 1), OF. conestable, F. conn['e]table, LL. conestabulus, constabularius, comes stabuli, orig., count of the stable, master of the horse, equerry; comes count (L. companion) + L. stabulum stable. See Count a nobleman, and Stable.]1. A high officer in the monarchical establishments of the Middle Ages. Note: The constable of France was the first officer of the crown, and had the chief command of the army. It was also his duty to regulate all matters of chivalry. The office was suppressed in 1627. The constable, or lord high constable, of England, was one of the highest officers of the crown, commander in chief of the forces, and keeper of the peace of the nation. He also had judicial cognizance of many important matters. The office was as early as the Conquest, but has been disused (except on great and solemn occasions), since the attainder of Stafford, duke of Buckingham, in the reign of Henry VIII. 2. (Law) An officer of the peace having power as a conservator of the public peace, and bound to execute the warrants of judicial officers. --Bouvier. Note: In England, at the present time, the constable is a conservator of the peace within his district, and is also charged by various statutes with other duties, such as serving summons, precepts, warrants, etc. In the United States, constables are town or city officers of the peace, with powers similar to those of the constables of England. In addition to their duties as conservators of the peace, they are invested with others by statute, such as to execute civil as well as criminal process in certain cases, to attend courts, keep juries, etc. In some cities, there are officers called high constables, who act as chiefs of the constabulary or police force. In other cities the title of constable, as well as the office, is merged in that of the police officer. High constable, a constable having certain duties and powers within a hundred. [Eng.] Petty constable, a conservator of the peace within a parish or tithing; a tithingman. [Eng.] Special constable, a person appointed to act as constable of special occasions. Tooverrun, or outrun, the constable, to spend more than one's income; to get into debt. [Colloq.] --Smollett.
Es*tab"lish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Established; p. pr. & vb. n. Establishing.] [OE. establissen, OF. establir, F. ['e]tablir, fr. L. stabilire, fr. stabilis firm, steady, stable. See Stable, a., -ish, and cf. Stablish.]1. To make stable or firm; to fix immovably or firmly; to set (a thing) in a place and make it stable there; to settle; to confirm. So were the churches established in the faith. --Acts xvi. 5. The best established tempers can scarcely forbear being borne down. --Burke. Confidence which must precede union could be established only by consummate prudence and self-control. --Bancroft. 2. To appoint or constitute for permanence, as officers, laws, regulations, etc.; to enact; to ordain. By the consent of all, we were established The people's magistrates. --Shak. Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed. --Dan. vi. 8. 3. To originate and secure the permanent existence of; to found; to institute; to create and regulate; -- said of a colony, a state, or other institutions. He hath established it [the earth], he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited. --Is. xlv. 18. Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity! --Hab. ii. 12. 4. To secure public recognition in favor of; to prove and cause to be accepted as true; as, to establish a fact, usage, principle, opinion, doctrine, etc. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. --Deut. xix. 15. 5. To set up in business; to place advantageously in a fixed condition; -- used reflexively; as, he established himself in a place; the enemy established themselves in the citadel.
In*sta"ble\, a. [L. instabilis: cf. F. instable. See In- not, and Stable, a., and cf. Unstable.] Not stable; not standing fast or firm; unstable; prone to change or recede from a purpose; mutable; inconstant.
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*bil"i*ment\, n. [L. stabilimentum, fr. stabilire to make firm ir stable, fr. stabilis. See Stable, a.] The act of making firm; firm support; establishment. [R.] --Jer. taylor. They serve for stabiliment, propagation, and shade. --Derham.
Sta*bil"i*ty\, n. [L. stabilitas; cf. F. stabilit['e]. See Stable, a.]1. The state or quality of being stable, or firm; steadiness; firmness; strength to stand without being moved or overthrown; as, the stability of a structure; the stability of a throne or a constitution. 2. Steadiness or firmness of character, firmness of resolution or purpose; the quality opposite to fickleness, irresolution, or inconstancy; constancy; steadfastness; as, a man of little stability, or of unusual stability. 3. Fixedness; -- as opposed to fluidity. Since fluidness and stability are contary qualities. --Boyle. Syn: Steadiness; stableness; constancy; immovability; firmness.
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