[f. STAY v.1 + -ING1.] The action of STAY v.1
1. In various intransitive senses: Coming to a stand, waiting, continuing in a place or a condition; † hesitating, delaying.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov., II. viii. (1867), 73. Whiche foreseene in this woman wisely waiyng, That meete was to staie somwhat for hir staiyng.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., A ij. There is a degree in growing, a stint or staying, and a diminishing.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. viii. 62. Heere is no staying.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., II. 52. In the time of my fiue dayes staying there.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. vi. 199. The cause of his staying behind.
1786. G. Frazer, Dove’s Flight, 59. It is our perverse wills that are the cause of our staying away from Christ.
1891. Sat. Rev., 28 March, 383/1. Staying may merely mean, as it sometimes does on the Turf, not being able to go fast enough to tire themselves.
† b. Staying of the sun: = SOLSTICE. Cf. STAY sb.3 3 c. Obs.
[1552. Holoet, Stayinge course or standinge of the sunne at the highest and lowest.]
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 167. The steyinges & conuersyons of the soonne (cauled Solstitia).
c. Holding out in a race, etc.
1862. H. H. Dixon, Scott & Sebright, iii. 207. His staying arose rather from the fact that his speed was so tremendous that no horse could get him out, than from innate gameness.
2. Stopping, arresting, preventing.
1563. in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. III. 165. The proclamacion devysed for the steyinge of thowneres of thinfected mansyon howses … from the lettynge of the same.
1620. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 45. I fear it prouffe ane inprofitable work … bot there is no staying of him.
1654. J. Owen, Doctr. Saints Persev., xii. 287. The staying of the Mariners from going out of the ship, was a meanes that Paul was kept a live.
3. attrib. and Comb., as staying-place; staying power, in a race or other contest (hence also gen.), power to ‘stay’ or continue in action for a long time; power of persistent effort; so staying qualities.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., II. III. 16. No middle, no beginning, and no end; No *staying place.
1859. H. H. Dixon, Silk & Scarlet, iii. 249–50. His stock … rather inherit his fine dash of speed, than his *staying powers.
1875. Punch, 13 March, 115/2. Steddie has deteriorated, but his back is fairly straight, and his staying power is good.
1880. G. Duff, in 19th Cent., No. 38. 661. The Greek is no doubt the higher civilisation, but the Bulgarian has more ‘staying power.’
1887. Shearman, Athletics, 112. The good steeplechaser must, of course, be a long distance runner, as no one without staying powers can hope to last the distance.
1856. H. H. Dixon, Post & Paddock, ii. 38. The *staying qualities of the Hetmans.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., III. lxxxix. 218. Its candidates, when elected, often betrayed it and went over to the regulars, who, they foresaw, had more staying qualities.
