Stable

(stā'bl), a. [Lat. stabilis, from stare, to stand; Fr. stable, Pr. stable, estable, Sp. astable, It. stabile.]

1Sense 1. Firmly established; not easily moved, shaken, or overthrown; fixed; as, a stable government.

2Sense 2. Steady in purpose; constant; firm in resolution; not easily diverted from a purpose; not fickle or wavering; as, a stable man; a stable character.

3Sense 3. Durable; not subject to be overthrown or changed.

In this region of chance and vanity, where nothing is stable. Rogers.

Stable equilibrium, that condition of a body, in which if its equilibrium be disturbed, it is immediately restored, as in the case when the center of gravity is below the point of support;—opposed to unstable equilibrium, in which the center of gravity is above the point of support, and the equilibrium, once disturbed, is not restored by the forces acting on the body.

Synonyms—Fixed; steady; constant; abiding; strong.

n. [O. Fr. estable, N. Fr. étable, Pr. estable, Sp. establo, Lat. stabulum, from stare, to stand.] A house, shed, or building, for beasts to lodge and feed in; a stall.

A stable was our warmth, A manger his. Milton.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. STABLED; p. pr. & vb. n. STABLING.] To put or keep in a stable.

v. i. To dwell or lodge in a stable; to dwell in an inclosed place; to kennel.