See Also: grope(1)(dictionary)
grope(2)(dictionary)
grope 2, noun(dictionary)
grope 1, verb(dictionary)
stay(1)(dictionary)
stay(2)(dictionary)
stay(3)(dictionary)
stay(4)(dictionary)
stay(6)(dictionary)
stay(5)(dictionary)

grope 2, noun (oh) and stay(3) (iou)


grope 2, noun (oh)



2 n [C usually singular]
informal touching someone's body to get sexual pleasure, especially when they do not want you to do this

stay(3) (iou)



stay noun3. E16.
[from STAY verb1.]
A stationary condition; a state of neither advance nor retreat. Chiefly in at a stay, in a stay, at one stay, in one stay. arch. E16.
J. A. Froude In this world of change the point of view..never continues in one stay.
b. A permanent state or condition. Chiefly in in good stay, in quiet stay, etc. M16-E17.
A cessation of progress or action; a stop, a pause. Also in make a stay, make stay. E16.
J. Ruskin We can plunge..without stay..into the profundity of space.
b. A cessation of hostility or dissension. Also, a means of reconciliation. rare. M-L16.
a. An appliance for preventing the blade of a plough from cutting too deep a furrow. Only in E16.
b. A cause of stoppage; an obstacle, a hindrance. Also (rare), a scruple, a hesitation. M16-M17.
Dryden My Rage, like dam'd-up Streams swell'd by some stay.
The action of stopping someone or something or of bringing something to a temporary halt or pause; the fact of being brought to a temporary halt or delayed; an instance of this, a stoppage, a suspension of action. M16.
J. Sutherland A six-month stay during which Tom was to take no decision on his..future.
b. Law. Suspension or postponement of a judicial proceeding, sentence, or judgement. M16.
F. Smyth Stielow's defence attorneys managed to gain a stay of execution.
Control; self-restraint. M16-E17.
Waiting, postponement. M16-E18.
The action or fact of staying, being present, or dwelling in one place; an instance of this, (the duration of) a period of temporary residence. M16.
D. Hammett Mrs Jorgenson..returned..after a six-year stay in Europe.
b. A place of temporary or fixed residence. arch. M16.
c. Continuance in a state, duration. L16-E18.
d. Staying power; power of endurance or resistance. L16.
C. H. Spurgeon Some men are always great at beginnings; but they have no stay in them.
Phrases: make stay of (a) withhold for a time; postpone; (b) put a stop to (an action); arrest (a person); intercept. set in stay, set at stay reduce to order or quiet; settle. set stays settle matters.
Comb.: stay-law US a legislative enactment establishing a General moratorium.
stayless adjective2 (a) not to be stayed or stopped, ever-moving, unceasing; (b) without stay or permanence, ever-changing, unsettled: L16.