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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Stale \Stale\ (st[=a]l), n. [OE. stale, stele, AS. stael, stel;
akin to LG. & D. steel, G. stiel; cf. L. stilus stake, stalk,
stem, Gr. steleo`n a handle, and E. stall, stalk, n.]
The stock or handle of anything; as, the stale of a rake.
[Written also {steal}, {stele}, etc.]
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But seeing the arrow's stale without, and that the head
did go
No further than it might be seen. --Chapman.
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Steal \Steal\ (st[=e]l), v. i.
1. To practice, or be guilty of, theft; to commit larceny or
theft.
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Thou shalt not steal. --Ex. xx. 15.
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2. To withdraw, or pass privily; to slip in, along, or away,
unperceived; to go or come furtively. --Chaucer.
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Fixed of mind to avoid further entreaty, and to fly
all company, one night she stole away. --Sir P.
Sidney.
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From whom you now must steal, and take no leave.
--Shak.
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A soft and solemn breathing sound
Rose like a steam of rich, distilled perfumes,
And stole upon the air. --Milton.
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Steal \Steal\ (st[=e]l), n. [See {Stale} a handle.]
A handle; a stale, or stele. [Archaic or Prov. Eng.]
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And in his hand a huge poleax did bear.
Whose steale was iron-studded but not long. --Spenser.
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Steal \Steal\ (st[=e]l), v. t. [imp. {Stole} (st[=o]l); p. p.
{Stolen} (st[=o]"l'n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Stealing}.] [OE.
stelen, AS. stelan; akin to OFries. stela, D. stelen, OHG.
stelan, G. stehlen, Icel. stela, SW. stj[aum]la, Dan.
stiaele, Goth. stilan.]
1. To take, and carry away, feloniously; to take without
right or leave, and with intent to keep wrongfully; as, to
steal the personal goods of another.
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Maugre thy heed, thou must for indigence
Or steal, or beg, or borrow, thy dispense.
--Chaucer.
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The man who stole a goose and gave away the giblets
in alms. --G. Eliot.
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2. To withdraw or convey clandestinely (reflexive); hence, to
creep furtively, or to insinuate.
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They could insinuate and steal themselves under the
same by their humble carriage and submission.
--Spenser.
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He will steal himself into a man's favor. --Shak.
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3. To gain by insinuating arts or covert means.
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So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
--2 Sam. xv.
6.
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4. To get into one's power gradually and by imperceptible
degrees; to take possession of by a gradual and
imperceptible appropriation; -- with away.
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Variety of objects has a tendency to steal away the
mind from its steady pursuit of any subject. --I.
Watts.
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5. To accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner; to try
to carry out secretly; as, to steal a look.
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Always, when thou changest thine opinion or course,
profess it plainly, . . . and do not think to steal
it. --Bacon.
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{To steal a march}, to march in a covert way; to gain an
advantage unobserved; -- formerly followed by of, but now
by on or upon, and sometimes by over; as, to steal a march
upon one's political rivals.
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She yesterday wanted to steal a march of poor Liddy.
--Smollett.
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Fifty thousand men can not easily steal a march over
the sea. --Walpole.
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Syn: To filch; pilfer; purloin; thieve.
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