A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

stoic (n.) --- 1382, "philosopher of the school founded by Zeno," from L. stoicus, from Gk. stoikos "pertaining to a member of or the teachings of the school founded by Zeno (c.334-c.262 B.C.E.), characterized by austere ethical doctrines," lit. "pertaining to a portico," from stoa "porch," specifically Stoa Poikile "the Painted Porch," the great hall in Athens (decorated with frescoes depicting the Battle of Marathon) where Zeno taught (see stoa). Meaning "person who represses feelings or endures patiently" first recorded 1579. The adj. is recorded from 1596 in the "repressing feelings" sense, 1607 in the philosophical sense; earlier stoical (1432 of philosophers, 1571 as "indifferent to pleasure or pain").

stoke --- 1660 (implied in stoker), "to feed and stir up a fire in a fireplace," from Du. stoken "to stoke," from M.Du. stoken "to poke, thrust," related to stoc "stick, stump," from P.Gmc. *stok-, variant of *stik-, *stek- "pierce, prick" (see stick (v.)). Stoked "enthusiastic" first recorded 1902; revived in surfer slang 1963.

stole --- O.E. stole "long robe, scarf-like garment worn by clergymen," from L. stola "robe, vestment," from Gk. stole "a long robe;" originally "garment, equipment," from root of stellein "to place, array," from PIE *stel- (see stolid). Meaning "women's long garment of fur or feathers" is attested from 1889.

stolid --- 1563 (implied in stolidity), from M.Fr. stolide (16c.), from L. stolidus "insensible, dull, brutish," prop. "unmovable," related to stultus "foolish," from PIE base *stel- "to cause to stand, to place," from base *sta- (see stet).

stoma --- orifice, small opening in an animal body, 1684, from Mod.L., from Gk. stoma (gen. stomatos) "mouth," from PIE base *stom-en-, denoting various body parts and orifices (cf. Avestan staman- "mouth" (of a dog), Hittite shtamar "mouth," M.Bret. staffn "mouth, jawbone," Corn. stefenic "palate"). Surgical sense is attested from 1937.

stomach --- c.1300, "internal pouch into which food is digested," from O.Fr. estomac, from L. stomachus "stomach, throat," also "pride, inclination, indignation" (which were thought to have their origin in that organ), from Gk. stomachos "throat, gullet, esophagus," lit. "mouth, opening," from stoma "mouth" (see stoma). Applied to the openings of various internal organs, especially the stomach, then to the stomach itself. Some 16c. anatomists tried to correct the sense back to "esophagus" and introduce ventricle for what we call the stomach. Meaning "belly, midriff, part of the body that contains the stomach" is from c.1375. Figurative senses in L. extended into M.E. (cf. "relish, inclination, desire," 1513). The verb meaning "to tolerate, put up with" is from 1577; earlier sense was opposite: "to be offended at, resent" (1523), from L. stomachari "to be resentful."

stomp (v.) --- 1803, variant of stamp. Meaning "lively social dance" is recorded from 1912 in jazz slang.

stone (adj.) --- intensifying adj., 1935, first recorded in black slang, probably from earlier use in phrases like stone blind (c.1375, lit. "blind as a stone"), stone deaf, etc., from stone (n.). Stone cold sober dates from 1937.

stone (n.) --- O.E. stan, used of common rocks, precious gems, concretions in the body, memorial stones, from P.Gmc. *stainaz (cf. O.N. steinn, Dan. steen, O.H.G., Ger. stein, Goth. stains), from PIE *stai- "stone," also "to thicken, stiffen" (cf. Skt. styayate "curdles, becomes hard;" Avestan stay- "heap;" Gk. stear "fat, tallow," stia, stion "pebble;" O.C.S. stena "wall"). Slang sense of "testicle" is from 1154. The British measure of weight (usually equal to 14 pounds) is from 1390s, originally a specific stone. Phrase stone's throw for "a short distance" is attested from 1581. Metaphoric use of stone wall for "act of obstruction" is first attested 1876; stonewall (v.) "to obstruct" is from 1914. Stone Age is from 1864. To kill two birds with one stone is first attested 1656.

stone (v.) --- c.1200, "to pelt with stones," from stone (n.). Stoned "drunk, intoxicated with narcotics" is 1930s slang; stoner "stuporous person" is from 1960s.

Stonehenge --- c.1130, Stanenges, lit. "stone gallows," perhaps so called from fancied resemblance to old-style gallows with two posts, with the second element related to the verb hang. Some antiquarians suggest the notion may be of "supported in the air, that which hangs in the air" (cf. henge-clif, for L. præruptum), in ref. to the lintel stones, but the order of the elements and the inflexion is against this. An ancient name for it was the Giant's Dance.

stooge --- 1913, "stage assistant," of uncertain origin, perhaps an alteration of student (with the mispronunciation STOO-jent), in sense of "apprentice." Meaning "lackey, person used for another's purpose" first recorded 1937, perhaps influenced by the Three Stooges film comedy act, which had been appearing in movies since 1930, starting as "Ted Healy and His Stooges."

stool --- O.E. stol "seat for one person," from P.Gmc. *stolaz (cf. O.Fris. stol, O.N. stoll, O.H.G. stuol, Ger. Stuhl "seat," Goth. stols "high seat, throne"), from PIE *sta-lo-, locative of base *sta- "to stand" (cf. Lith. pa-stolas "stand," O.C.S. stolu "stool;" see stet). Originally used of thrones (cf. cynestol "royal seat, throne"); change of meaning began with adoption of chair from Fr., which relegated stool to small seats without arms or backs, then "privy" (1410) and thence to "bowel movement" (1533).

stool pigeon --- 1830, Amer.Eng., said to be from notion of decoys fastened to stools to lure other pigeons. But perhaps related to stall "decoy bird" (1500), especially "a pigeon used to entice a hawk into the net" (see stall (2)).

stoop (n.) --- raised open platform at the door of a house, 1755, Amer.Eng. and Canadian, from Du. stoep "flight of steps, doorstep, stoop," from M.Du., from P.Gmc. *stopo "step" (see step).

stoop (v.) --- bend forward, O.E. stupian "to bow, bend" (cognate with M.Du. stupen "to bow, bend"), from P.Gmc. *stup-, from PIE *(s)teu- (see steep (adj.)). Figurative sense of "condescend" is from 1579. Sense of "swoop" is first recorded 1575 in falconry.

stop (v.) --- O.E. -stoppian (in forstoppian "to stop up, stifle"), along with M.L.G. stoppen, O.H.G. stopfon (Ger. stopfen) a W.Gmc. borrowing from V.L. *stuppare "to stop or stuff with tow or oakum" (cf. It. stoppare, Fr. étouper "to stop with tow"), from L. stuppa "coarse part of flax, tow." Plugs made of tow were used from ancient times in Rhine valley. Sense of "bring or come to a halt" (1440) is from notion of preventing a flow by blocking a hole, and the word's development in this sense is unique to Eng., though it since has been widely adopted in other languages; perhaps infl. by L. stupere "be stunned, be stupefied." The noun is first recorded 1483. Stopper "glass plug for a bottle neck" is from 1667. Stopgap is from 1684. Stop-watch is from 1737. Stop-and-go (adj.) is from 1926.

store (n.) --- 1297, "that with which a household, camp, etc. is stored," from store (v.). Sense of "sufficient supply (of anything)" is attested from 1471. The meaning "place where goods are kept for sale" is first recorded 1721 in Amer.Eng. (British prefers shop). Stores "articles and equipment for an army" is from 1636. Storefront first attested 1880. In store "laid up for future use" (also of events, etc.) is recorded from c.1386. Store-bought is attested from 1952, Amer.Eng.; earlier store-boughten (1883).

store (v.) --- 1264, "to supply or stock," from O.Fr. estorer "erect, furnish, store," from L. instaurare "restore," from in- "in" + -staurare, from a noun cognate with Gk. stauros "pole, stake" (see steer (v.)). The meaning "to keep in store for future use" (1552) probably is a back-formation from store (n.). Storage is from 1612.

storied --- 1481, "ornamented with scenes from history," from story (1). Meaning "celebrated in history or legend" is from 1725.

stork --- O.E. storc, related to stear "stiff, strong" (see stark), from P.Gmc. *sturkaz (cf. O.N. storkr, M.Du. storc, O.H.G. storah, Ger. Storch "stork"). Perhaps so called with reference to the bird's stiff or rigid posture. But some connect the word to Gk. torgos "vulture." O.C.S. struku, Rus. sterch, Lith. starkus, Magyar eszterag, Albanian sterkjok "stork" are Gmc. loan-words. The fable that babies are brought by storks is from Ger. and Du. nursery stories, no doubt from the notion that storks nesting on one's roof meant good luck, often in the form of family happiness.

storm (n.) --- O.E. storm, from P.Gmc. *sturmaz (cf. O.N. stormr, O.S., M.L.G., M.Du., Du. storm, O.H.G., Ger. sturm). O.Fr. estour "onset, tumult," It. stormo are Gmc. loan-words. Fig. (non-meteorological) sense was in late O.E. The verb in the sense of "to rage, be violent" is from c.1380; military sense (1645) first used by Oliver Cromwell. Storm-door first recorded 1878; storm-water is from 1879; storm-window is attested from 1824. Storm-troops (Ger. sturmtruppen) is from 1917, introduced by the German military in World War I. Storm-trooper "member of the Nazi Sturmabteilung" is from 1933 (see Sturmabteilung).

story (1) --- account of some happening, c.1225, "narrative of important events or celebrated persons of the past," from O.Fr. estorie, from L.L. storia and L. historia "history, account, tale, story" (see history). Meaning "recital of true events" first recorded c.1375; sense of "narrative of fictitious events meant to entertain" is from c.1500. Not differentiated from history till 1500s. As a euphemism for "a lie" it dates from 1697. Meaning "newspaper article" is from 1892. Story-teller is from 1709. Story-line first attested 1941. That's another story "that requires different treatment" is attested from 1818. Story of my life "sad truth" first recorded 1938.

story (2) --- floor of a building, c.1400, from Anglo-L. historia "floor of a building" (c.1200), also "picture," from L. historia (see history). Perhaps so called because the fronts of buildings in the Middle Ages often were decorated with rows of painted windows.

stoup --- 1397, "jug, jar," from O.N. staup "cup" (cognate of O.E. steap), from P.Gmc. *staupo- (cf. M.L.G. stop, Du. stoop, O.H.G. stouf, Ger. Stauf).

stour --- c.1300, "armed conflict, struggle with adversity or pain," from Anglo-Fr. estur, from O.Fr. estour, from P.Gmc. *sturmoz "storm" (see storm). Became obsolete, revived by Spenser and his followers in various senses; also surviving as a Scottish and Northern English word meaning "a (driving) storm" or "uproar, commotion."

stout --- c.1300, "proud, valiant, strong," from O.Fr. estout "brave, fierce, proud," earlier estolt "strong," from W.Gmc. *stult- "proud, stately" (cf. M.L.G. stolt "stately, proud," Ger. stolz "proud, haughty, arrogant, stately"), from PIE base *stel- "to put, stand." Meaning "strong in body, powerfully built" is attested from c.1386, but has been displaced by the (often euphemistic) meaning "thick-bodied, fat and large," which is first recorded 1804. Original sense preserved in stout-hearted (1552). The noun "strong, dark-brown beer" is first recorded 1677, from the adjective.

stove --- 1456, "heated room, bath-room," from M.L.G. or M.Du. stove, both meaning "heated room," which was the original sense in Eng.; a general W.Gmc. word (cf. O.E. stofa "bath-room," Ger. Stube "sitting room") of uncertain relationship to similar words in Romance languages (cf. It. stufa, Fr. étuve "sweating-room;" see stew (v.)). One theory traces them all to V.L. *extufare "take a steam bath." The meaning "device for heating or cooking" is first recorded 1618. Stove pipe is recorded from 1699; as a type of tall cylindrical hat for men, from 1851.

stow --- c.1300, verb use of O.E. noun stow "a place" (common in place names) from P.Gmc. *stowijanan (cf. O.Fris. sto "place," M.L.G., M.Du., Du. stouwen "to stow," O.H.G. stouwen "to stop, check," Ger. stauen "to stow"), from PIE *stau-, from base *sta- "to stand" (cf. O.C.S. stavljo "to place," Lith. stoviu "to stand;" see stet). The nautical sense of "put away to be stored, pack" (1555) was enforced by Du. stouwen "to cram, pack up close." Phrase stow away "conceal" is first found 1795; the noun stowaway is from 1850.

strabismus --- a squint, 1684, from Mod.L., from Gk. strabismos, from strabizein "to squint," from strabos "squinting, squint-eyed." Earlier in Anglicized form strabism (1656).

straddle (v.) --- 1565, probably an alteration of stridlen, frequentative of striden (see stride). U.S. colloquial sense of "take up an equivocal position, appear to favor both sides" is attested from 1838. The noun is first recorded 1611.

Stradivarius --- 1833, from Latinized form of name of Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737), violin-maker of Cremona, or his sons or pupils. Short form Strad is attested from 1884.

strafe --- 1915, "punish, attack," picked up by British soldiers from Ger. strafen "to punish" (from P.Gmc. *stræf-), in slogan Gott strafe England "May God punish England," current in Germany c.1914-16 at the start of World War I. The word used for many kinds of attack at first; meaning "shoot up ground positions from low-flying aircraft" emerged as the main sense 1942.

straggle --- c.1400, "to wander from the proper path, to rove from one's companions," perhaps from a Scand. source (cf. dialectal Norw. stragla "to walk laboriously"), or a frequentative of straken "to move, go." Specifically of soldiers from 1529.

straight (adj.1) --- c.1350, "direct, undeviating, not crooked," prop. "that which is stretched," adj. use of O.E. streht (altered, by analogy with streccan, from earlier streaht), pp. of streccan "to stretch" (see stretch). Meaning "true, direct, honest" is from 1530. Of communication, "clear, unambiguous," from 1862. Sense of "undiluted, uncompromising" (e.g. straight whiskey, 1874) is Amer.Eng., first recorded 1856. Theatrical sense of "serious" (as opposed to popular or comic) is attested from 1895; vaudeville slang straight man first attested 1923. Go straight in the underworld slang sense is from 1919; straighten up "become respectable" is from 1907. Straight arrow "decent, conventional person" is 1969, from archetypal Native American brave name. To keep a straight face first recorded 1897; straight shooter is from 1928; straight-edge as a punk subculture is attested by 1987.

straight (adj.2) --- conventional, especially "heterosexual," 1941, probably in part from straight and narrow path "course of conventional morality and law-abiding behavior," which is based on a misreading of Matt. vii.14 (where the gate is actually strait), and the other influence seems to be from strait-laced.

straight (n.) --- 1864, "straight part of a race track," from straight (adj.1). Poker sense attested from 1841. Meaning "conventional person" is first recorded 1967 (see straight (adj.2)).

straightforward --- 1555, from straight (adj. 1) + forward. In ref. to language, from 1806.

strain (n.) --- line of descent, O.E. strion, streon "gain, begetting," from P.Gmc. *streun- "to pile up," from PIE base *stere- "to spread, extend, stretch out" (see structure). Applied to animal species first in 1607.

strain (v.) --- to stretch, draw tight, c.1300, from prp. stem of O.Fr. estreindre "bind tightly, clasp, squeeze," from L. stringere (2) "bind or draw tight," from PIE base *strenk- "tight, narrow; pull tight, twist" (cf. Lith. stregti "congeal;" Gk. strangein "twist;" O.H.G. strician "mends nets;" O.E. streccian "to stretch," streng "string;" Ger. stramm, Du. stram "stiff"). Sense of "press through a filter" is from 1326 (implied in strainer); that of "lay undue stress on, make a forced interpretation of" is from 1449. Noun sense of "injury caused by straining" is from 1558. The meaning "passage of music" (1575) probably developed from a verb meaning "to tighten" the voice, originally the strings of a musical instrument (1387).

strait (n.) --- 1352, "narrow, confined space or place," specifically of bodies of water from 1375, noun use of adj. strait "narrow, strict" (c.1290), from O.Fr. estreit (Fr. étroit) "tight, close, narrow" (also used as a noun), from L. strictus, pp. of stringere "bind or draw tight" (see strain (v.)). Sense of "difficulty, plight" (usually straits) first recorded 1544. Strait and narrow "conventional way of life" is recorded from c.1340 (see straight (adj.2)). Strait-laced is 1546, of stays or bodices; figurative sense of "over-precise, prudish" is from 1554. Strait-jacket is attested from 1814, earlier strait-waistcoat (1753).

strand (n.1) --- shore, O.E. strand, from P.Gmc. *strandas (cf. Dan., Swed. strand "beach, shore, strand," O.N. strönd "border, edge, shore," M.L.G. strant, Ger. Strand, Du. strand "beach"), perhaps from PIE base *ster- "to stretch out." Strictly, the part of a shore that lies between the tide-marks. Formerly also used of river banks, hence the London street name (1246).

strand (n.2) --- fiber of a rope, string, etc., 1497, probably from O.Fr. estran, from a Gmc. source akin to O.H.G. streno "lock, tress, strand of hair," M.Du. strene, Ger. Strähne "skein, strand," of unknown origin.

strand (v.) --- 1621, "to drive aground on a shore," from strand (n.1); fig. sense of "leave helpless" is first recorded 1837.

strange --- c.1280, "from elsewhere, foreign, unknown, unfamiliar," from O.Fr. estrange (Fr. étrange) "foreign, alien," from L. extraneus "foreign, external," from extra "outside of" (see extra). Sense of "queer, surprising" is attested from c.1374. Stranger, attested from 1375, never picked up the secondary sense of the adj. As a form of address to an unknown person, it is recorded from 1817, Amer.Eng. rural colloq. Meaning "one who has stopped visiting" is recorded from 1530.

strangle --- c.1300, from O.Fr. estrangler, from L. strangulare "to choke, stifle, check, constrain," from Gk. strangalan "choke, twist," from strangale "a halter, cord, lace," related to strangos "twisted," from PIE base *strenk- "tight, narrow; pull tight, twist" (see strain).

strangulation --- 1542, from L. strangulationem (nom. strangulatio), from strangulare (see strangle).

strap --- 1620, from Scottish and/or nautical variant of strope "loop or strap on a harness" (1357), probably from O.Fr. estrop "strap," from L. stroppus "strap, band," perhaps from Etruscan, ultimately from Gk. strophos "twisted band," from strephein "to turn" (see strophe). O.E. stropp, Du. strop "halter" also are borrowed from Latin. Slang adj. strapped "short of money" is from 1857, from strap in a now-obsolete sense of "financial credit" (1828). Strapping (adj.) "tall and sturdy," originally applied to women, is from 1657 (cf. whopping, spanking). Straphanger "bus- or subway-rider" first recorded 1905. The verb meaning "to fasten or secure with a strap" is recorded from 1711. Strapless is 1846, of trousers, 1935, of brassieres.

strata --- c.1700, plural of stratum.

stratagem --- artifice, trick, 1489, from M.Fr. stratagème "trick, especially to outwit an enemy," from It. stratagemma, from L. strategema "artifice, stratagem," from Gk. strategema "the act of a general, military stratagem," from strategein "to be a general, command," from strategos "general" (see strategy).

strategy --- 1810, "art of a general," from Fr. stratégie, from Gk. strategia "office or command of a general," from strategos "general," from stratos "multitude, army, expedition," lit. "that which is spread out" (see structure) + agos "leader," from agein "to lead" (see act). Strategic "pertaining to strategy" is from 1825.

strath --- wide river valley between hills, 1540, from Scottish, from O.Ir. srath "wide river valley," from O.Celt. *s(t)rato-, from PIE base *stere- "to spread, extend, stretch out" (see structure).

stratification --- 1617, from Mod.L. stratificationem (nom. stratificatio), from stratificatus, pp. of stratificare "to form strata," from stratum "thing spread out" + root of facere "to make" (see factitious).

stratocracy --- government by the army, 1652, from Gk. stratos "army" (see strategy) + -kratia "rule of," from kratos "strength, power, rule" (see -cracy).

stratosphere --- 1909, from Fr. stratosphère, lit. "sphere of layers," coined by Fr. meteorologist Léon-Philippe Teisserenc de Bort (1855-1913) from L. stratus "a spreading out" (from pp. stem of sternere "to spread out;" see structure) + Fr. -sphère, as in atmosphère. The region where the temperature increases or remains steady as you go higher. [An earlier stratosphere, attested in Eng. 1908 and coined in Ger. 1901, was a geological term for part of the Earth's crust. It is now obsolete.]

stratum --- horizontal layer, 1599, from Mod.L., special use of L. stratum "thing spread out, coverlet, pavement," from neut. pp. of sternere "to spread out, lay down, stretch out," from PIE *stre-to- "to stretch, extend," from base *stere- "to spread, extend, stretch out" (see structure).

stratus --- a low layer of cloud, 1803, from L. stratus "a spreading," from stratus, pp. of sternere (see stratum).

straw --- O.E. streaw "stems or stalks of certain cereals," lit. "that which is scattered or strewn," related to streowian (see strew), from P.Gmc. *strawam "that which is scattered" (cf. O.N. stra, Dan. straa, Swed. strå, O.Fris. stre, O.Du., O.H.G. stro, Ger. Stroh "straw"), from PIE *stere- "to spread" (see structure). The notion is of dried grain stalks strewn on a floor as carpeting or bedding. As a type of what is trifling or unimportant, attested from c.1290. Meaning "hollow tube through which a drink is sucked" is recorded from 1851. To draw straws as a means of deciding something is recorded from 1832. The last straw is from the proverb of the camel. Man of straw "imaginary opponent" is recorded from 1624. Straw poll is from 1932; earlier straw vote (1866). Straw hat first attested 1453. To clutch (or grasp or catch) at straws (1748) is what a drowning man proverbially would do.

strawberry --- O.E. streawberige, from streaw "straw" + berige "berry." There is no corresponding compound in any other Gmc. language; the reason for the name is uncertain, but perhaps it is in reference to the tiny chaff-like external seeds which cover the fruit. A cognate O.E. name was eorðberge "earth-berry" (cf. Mod.Ger. erdbeere). Strawberry blonde is attested from 1884.

stray (v.) --- c.1300, aphetic of O.Fr. estraier "wander about," lit. "go about the streets," from estree "route, highway," from L.L. via strata "paved road" (see street). On another theory, the O.Fr. is from V.L. *estragare, a contraction of *estravagare, representing L. extra vagari "to wander outside" (see extravagant). Fig. sense of "to wander from the path of rectitude" is attested from c.1325. The noun meaning "domestic animal found wandering" is earlier (1228), from O.Fr. estraié "strayed," pp. of estraier. The adj. is first recorded 1607.

streak (n.) --- O.E. strica "line of motion, stroke of a pen" (related to strican "pass over lightly," see strike), from P.Gmc. *strikon (cf. M.L.G. streke "stroke, line," O.H.G., Ger. strich, Goth. striks "stroke, line"), from PIE base *streig- (see strigil). Sense of "long, thin mark" is first found 1567. Meaning "a temporary run (of luck)" is from 1843.

streak (v.) --- 1768, "to go quickly, to rush, run at full speed," respelling (by association with streak (n.)) of streek "to go quickly" (c.1380), originally "to stretch oneself" (c.1250), a northern M.E. variant of stretch (v.). Streaking "running naked in public" first recorded 1973.

stream --- O.E. stream "a course of water," from P.Gmc. *straumaz (cf. O.S. strom, O.N. straumr, Dan. strøm, Swed. ström, Norw. straum, O.Fris. stram, Du. stroom, O.H.G. stroum, Ger. Strom "current, river"), from PIE base *sreu- "flow" (see rheum). Meaning "current in the sea" (e.g. Gulf Stream) is recorded from c.1375. The verb is attested from c.1225. Streamer "flag that streams in the air" is recorded from 1292. Stream of consciousness in lit crit first recorded 1931, originally in psychology (1855).

streamline --- 1868 (n.) "line drawn from point to point, so that its direction is everywhere that of the motion of the fluid" [Lamb, "Hydrodynamics," 1906], from stream + line. The adj. is attested from 1898, "free from turbulence," 1907 in sense of "shaped so that the flow around it is smooth." The verb is attested from 1913 with meaning "give a streamline form to," and 1936 in the extended sense of "simplify and organize."