stale: [13] Something that is stale has etymologically been allowed to ‘stand’ – so that it is no longer fresh. The word comes from Old French estale ‘stationary’, a derivative of estaler ‘halt’ (from which English gets the verb stall). And this in turn goes back ultimately to the prehistoric Germanic base *sta- ‘stand’. Stale originally denoted wine, beer, etc that had ‘stood’ long enough for the sediment to clear (‘If mead is well sod [boiled] and stale it is liking to the taste’, John de Trevisa, De proprietatibus rerum 1398), and it was not until the early 16th century that derogatory connotations of lack of freshness began to creep in. => stall, stand
stale (adj.)
early 13c., "freed from dregs or lees" (of ale, wine, etc.), probably literally "having stood long enough to clear," ultimately from PIE root *sta- "to stand" (see stet); probably via Old French estal "placed, fixed position," from Frankish *stal- "position" (see stall (n.1)). Cognate with Middle Dutch stel "stale" (of beer and old urine). Originally a desirable quality (in beer and wine); the meaning "not fresh" is first recorded late 15c. Figurative sense (of immaterial things) "old and trite, hackneyed" is recorded from 1560s. As a noun, "that which has become tasteless by exposure," hence "a prostitute" (in Shakespeare, etc.). Related: Staleness.
stale (v.)
mid-15c., from stale (adj.). Related: Staled; staling.
实用例句
1. He was aware of the stink of stale beer on his breath.
他知道自己嘴里有股变味啤酒的馊味。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The Government, he said, were sticking to stale ideas.
他说政府仍在抱残守缺。
来自柯林斯例句
3. I believe in progression, in taking risks, in never getting stale.
