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

Stale \Stale\, n. [Cf. OF. estal place, position, abode, market,
F. ['e]tal a butcher's stall, OHG. stal station, place,
stable, G. stall (see {Stall}, n.); or from OE. stale theft,
AS. stalu (see {Steal}, v. t.).]
1. Something set, or offered to view, as an allurement to
draw others to any place or purpose; a decoy; a stool
pigeon. [Obs.]
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Still, as he went, he crafty stales did lay.
--Spenser.
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2. A stalking-horse. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
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3. (Chess) A stalemate. [Obs.] --Bacon.
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4. A laughingstock; a dupe. [Obs.] --Shak.
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Stale \Stale\, a. [Akin to stale urine, and to stall, n.;
probably from Low German or Scandinavian. Cf. {Stale}, v. i.]
1. Vapid or tasteless from age; having lost its life, spirit,
and flavor, from being long kept; as, stale beer.
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2. Not new; not freshly made; as, stale bread.
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3. Having lost the life or graces of youth; worn out;
decayed. "A stale virgin." --Spectator.
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4. Worn out by use or familiarity; having lost its novelty
and power of pleasing; trite; common. --Swift.
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Wit itself, if stale is less pleasing. --Grew.
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How weary, stale flat, and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world! --Shak.
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{Stale affidavit} (Law), an affidavit held above a year.
--Craig.

{Stale demand} (Law), a claim or demand which has not been
pressed or demanded for a long time.
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Stale \Stale\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Staled} (st[=a]ld); p. pr. &
vb. n. {Staling}.]
To make vapid or tasteless; to destroy the life, beauty, or
use of; to wear out.
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Age can not wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety. --Shak.
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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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Stale \Stale\, v. i. [Akin to D. & G. stallen, Dan. stalle, Sw.
stalla, and E. stall a stable. [root] 163. See {Stall}, n.,
and cf. {Stale}, a.]
To make water; to discharge urine; -- said especially of
horses and cattle. --Hudibras.
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Stale \Stale\, n. [See {Stale}, a. & v. i.]
1. That which is stale or worn out by long keeping, or by
use. [Obs.]
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2. A prostitute. [Obs.] --Shak.
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3. Urine, esp. that of beasts. "Stale of horses." --Shak.
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