staylessadj.1
/ˈsteɪlɪs/ 1. Not to be stayed or stopped, ever-moving, unceasing, ceaseless.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > continuing > [adjective] > continuous or without stop or pause (of action) > not able to be stopped
unstanchablec1374
stayless1578
stintless1587
unstayable1633
unstoppable1836
unarrestable1855
1578 T. Blenerhasset 2nd Pt. Mirrour for Magistrates Carassus f. 11 They fled the fielde: They made me muse, to see how fast they striude, With staylesse steppes, eche one his life to shielde.
1592 Countess of Pembroke tr. R. Garnier Antonius ii. sig. H2 And neuer can our weaknes turne awry The stailes course of powerfull destenie.
1611 J. Davies Scourge of Folly 72 That's staylesse Time, which he doth precious hold.
1825 J. Hogg Queen Hynde 24 Onward he drove with stayless shock.
a1851 D. M. Moir Poet. Wks. (1852) II. 341 Though years in stayless current roll.
1867 G. MacDonald Poems 109 Stayless of foot, he turned not from the sea.
2. Without stay or permanence, ever-changing, unsettled.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > changeableness > [adjective]
slidinga900
wankleeOE
windyc1000
unsteadfastc1200
fleeting?c1225
loose?c1225
brotelc1315
unstablec1340
varyingc1340
variantc1374
motleyc1380
ungroundedc1380
muablea1393
passiblea1393
remuablea1393
changeablea1398
movablea1398
variablec1397
slidderya1400
ticklec1400
variantc1412
flitting1413
mutable?a1425
movingc1425
flaskisable1430
flickering1430
transmutablec1430
vertible1447
brittlea1450
ficklea1450
permutablec1450
unfirmc1450
uncertain1477
turnable1483
unsteadfast1483
vagrantc1522
inconstant1526
alterable?1531
stirringc1540
slippery1548
various1552
slid?1553
mutala1561
rolling1561
weathery1563
unconstant1568
interchangeable1574
fluctuant1575
stayless1575
transitive1575
voluble1575
changeling1577
queasy1579
desultory1581
huff-puff1582
unstaid1586
vagrant1586
changeful1590
floating1594
Protean1594
unstayed1594
swimming1596
anchorless1597
mobilec1600
ticklish1601
catching1603
labile1603
unrooted1604
quicksilvered1605
versatile1605
insubstantial1607
uncertain1609
brandling1611
rootless1611
squeasy1611
wind-changinga1616
insolid1618
ambulatory1625
versatilous1629
plastic1633
desultorious1637
unbottomed1641
fluid1642
fluent1648
yea-and-nay1648
versipellous1650
flexile1651
uncentred1652
variating1653
chequered1656
slideable1662
transchangeative1662
weathercock-like1663
flicketing1674
fluxa1677
lapsable1678
wanton1681
veering1684
upon the weathercock1702
contingent1703
unsettled?1726
fermentable1731
afloat1757
brickle1768
wavy1795
vagarious1798
unsettled1803
fitful1810
metamorphosical1811
undulating1815
tittupya1817
titubant1817
mutative1818
papier mâché1818
teetotum1819
vacillating1822
capricious1823
sensitive1828
quicksilvery1829
unengrafted1829
fluxionala1834
proteiform1833
liquid1835
tottlish1835
kaleidoscopic1846
versative1846
kaleidoscopical1858
tottery1861
choppy1865
variative1874
variational1879
wimbly-wambly1881
fluctuable1882
shifty1882
giveable1884
shifty1884
tippy1886
mutatory1890
upsettable1890
rocky1897
undulatory1897
streaky1898
tottly1905
tipply1906
up and down1907
inertialess1927
sometimey1946
rise-and-fall1950
switchable1961
1575 G. Gascoigne Fruites of Warre lxxiii, in Posies sig. Ii In meane while yet hopeth to aduaunce His staylesse state, by sworde, by speare, by shielde.
1590 L. Andrewes 96 Serm. (1629) Lent ii. 277 We are but let see the wandring and staylesse estate we were in, till God vouchsafed to send us this gracious conduct.
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxxviii. 27 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 106 A waiward, stubborn, stailesse, faithlesse race.
1813 J. Hogg Queen's Wake iii. xvii. 304 She leaned to the lee, and she girdled the wave; Aloft on the stayless verge she hung.
1881 G. MacDonald Mary Marston II. 20 The bond between them was an eternal one, yet were they separated by a gulf of unrelation. Not a mountain range, but a stayless nothingness parted them.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
staylessadj.2
1. Without stay or support, unsupported.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [adjective] > supported > not
discounselled1480
stayless1587
unstayed1594
unpropped1608
unseconded1608
unbacked1609
unpartied1641
unsustained1697
unupheld1827
1587 J. Higgins Mirour for Magistrates (new ed.) Pinnar ii If hee vnstatelike stammer out the same, With staylesse staggering footed verse, by ame.
1590 T. Lodge Rosalynde: Euphues Golden Legacie F 2 b Oh staylesse youth, by errour so misguided.
c1592 Faire Em sig. A3v Although our outward pomp be thus abased, And thralde to drudging, staylesse of the world.
1607 J. Davies Summa Totalis sig. G3 It was his will, That man, made stailesse, so should fall, and rise.
c1817 J. Hogg Tales & Sketches I. 291 Left helpless and stayless.
2. Unsupported by stays or corsets.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [adjective] > wearing underwear > wearing corset > not
unstayed1820
uncorseted1856
stayless1880
corsetless1896
1880 E. Lynn Linton Rebel of Family iii, in Temple Bar 5 Jan. 139 The girl's slender, loose and stayless waist.
1883 Philad. Press 7 June 9 A stayless waist with divided underskirts.
Derivatives
ˈstaylessness n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [noun] > wearing underwear > state of not wearing underwear
staylessness1883
bralessness1973
1883 Philad. Press 7 June 9 Staylessness..is not by itself sufficient unto salvation in this matter, nor is the divided skirt by itself sufficient.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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adj.11575adj.21587