Nearby Words

stably

[stey-buhl] Origin

sta·ble

2[stey-buhl]
adjective, -bler, -blest.
1.
not likely to fall or give way, as a structure, support, foundation, etc.; firm; steady.
2.
able or likely to continue or last; firmly established; enduring or permanent: a stable government.
3.
resistant to sudden change or deterioration: A stable economy is the aim of every government.
4.
steadfast; not wavering or changeable, as in character or purpose; dependable.
5.
not subject to emotional instability or illness; sane; mentally sound.
EXPAND
6.
Physics. having the ability to react to a disturbing force by maintaining or reestablishing position, form, etc.
7.
Chemistry. not readily decomposing, as a compound; resisting molecular or chemical change.
8.
(of a patient's condition) exhibiting no significant change.
COLLAPSE

Origin:
1225–75; Middle English < Old French estable < Latin stabilis stabile

sta·ble·ness, noun
sta·bly, adverb


1. fixed, strong, sturdy. 4. invariable, unvarying, staunch, constant, reliable, steady, solid.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Stably is always a great word to know.
So is interrobang. Does it mean:
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
Collins
World English Dictionary
stable2 (ˈsteɪbəl)
 
adj
1.  steady in position or balance; firm
2.  lasting or permanent: a stable relationship
3.  steadfast or firm of purpose
4.  (of an elementary particle, atomic nucleus, etc) not undergoing decay; not radioactive: a stable nuclide
5.  (of a chemical compound) not readily partaking in a chemical change
6.  (of electronic equipment) with no tendency to self-oscillation
 
[C13: from Old French estable, from Latin stabilis steady, from stāre to stand]
 
'stableness2
 
n
 
'stably2
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

stable
"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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

stable sta·ble (stā'bəl)
adj. sta·bler, sta·blest

  1. Resistant to change of position or condition.

  2. Not subject to mental illness or irrationality.

  3. Having no known mode of decay; indefinitely long-lived. Used of atomic particles.

  4. Not easily decomposed or otherwise modified chemically.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
stable   (stā'bəl)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. 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.

  2. Relating to a chemical compound that does not easily decompose or change into other compounds. Water is an example of a stable compound.

  3. Relating to an atom or chemical element that is unlikely to share electrons with another atom or element.

  4. Not likely to change significantly or to deteriorate suddenly, as an individual's Medical condition.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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