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stalemate

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The definition of a stalemate is a deadlock, an unresolved situation which no one can win.

(noun)

An example of a stalemate is when you take one position and won't budge or compromise and your opponent takes another and won't budge, making it impossible to meet in the middle or progress forward.

See stalemate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

Chess any situation in which it is impossible for one of the players to move without placing his or her king in check: it results in a draw
any unresolved situation in which further action is impossible or useless; deadlock; draw

Origin: obs. stale, stalemate < ME < OFr estal, fixed location, safe place < Gmc, as in OHG stal (see stall) + mate

transitive verb stalemated, stalemating

to bring into a stalemate

See stalemate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A situation in which further action is blocked; a deadlock.
A drawing position in chess in which the king, although not in check, can move only into check and no other piece can move.

transitive verb stale·mat·ed, stale·mat·ing, stale·mates

To bring into a stalemate.

Origin:

Origin: Obsolete stale (from Middle English, probably from Anglo-Norman estale, fixed position, from Old French estal; see stale¹)

Origin: + mate²

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