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stale

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The definition of stale is something that is old or no longer fresh or new.

(adjective)

Old bread that has gone hard is an example of something that would be described as stale.
An idea that has become boring and overdone is an example of something that would be described as stale.

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See stale in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective staler, stalest

having lost freshness; made musty, dry, bad, etc. by having been kept too long; specif.,
1. flat; vapid; tasteless: stale beer
2. hard and dry: said of bread, etc.
3. low in oxygen content; stagnant: stale air
having lost originality or newness; lacking in interest through familiarity or overuse; hackneyed; trite: a stale joke, stale gossip
out of condition, ineffective, enervated, bored, etc. from either too much or too little activity
Law having lost legal force or effect through lack of use or action, as a claim or lien

Origin: ME, prob. via Anglo-Norm < OFr estale, quiet, stagnant < Gmc *stall: for IE base see still

transitive verb, intransitive verb staled, staling

to make or become stale

Related Forms:

stalely adverb
staleness noun

intransitive verb staled, staling

to urinate: said as of horses and cattle

Origin: ME, akin to MLowG stal, urine < IE base *(s)tel-, to let flow, urinate > Gr stalassein, to drip, telma, puddle

noun

urine, as of horses or cattle

See stale in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective stal·er, stal·est

Having lost freshness, effervescence, or palatability: stale bread; stale air.
Lacking originality or spontaneity: a stale joke.
Impaired in efficacy, vigor, or spirit, as from inactivity or boredom.
Law Having lost effectiveness or force through lack of exercise or action.

tr. & intr.v. staled staled, stal·ing, stales

To make or become stale.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English, settled, clear (used of beer or wine)

Origin: , probably from Old French estale, slack, settled, clear

Origin: , from estaler, to come to a standstill, halt

Origin: , from estal, standing place, stand

Origin: , of Germanic origin; see stel- in Indo-European roots

.

Related Forms:

staleˈly adverb

staleˈness noun

intransitive verb staled staled, stal·ing, stales

To urinate. Used especially of horses and camels.

noun

The urine of certain animals, especially horses and camels.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English stalen

Origin: , possibly of Low German origin

Origin: ; akin to Middle Low German stallen

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