a. [ad. L. stabilis: see STABLE a.
The examples of stabile, stabil(l occurring before English spelling became settled are to be referred to STABLE a.]
1. Firmly established, enduring, lasting. rare.
Used by a few writers to express more unequivocally the etymological sense of STABLE a.
1797. W. Taylor, in Monthly Rev., XXIV. 524. That stabile conviction, which terminates the sweet toil of investigation. Ibid. (1814), in Monthly Mag., XXXVII. 236/1. The poem is divided into short chapters,… it proves the stabile popularity of the first crusade.
1826. Landor, Imag. Conv., Johnson & Tooke, Wks. 1846, I. 153. Johnson. You reformers will let nothing be great, nothing be stabile.
1864. Swinburne, Atalanta, 688. There is nothing stabile in the world But the gods break it. Ibid. (1880), Songs of Springtides, Thalassius, 71. This poor flash of sense in life,… More stabile than the world’s own heart’s root seems, By that strong faith.
2. Fixed in position; spec. in Electro-therapeutics, held firmly upon one point or over one part (as opposed to LABILE a. 4).
1896. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., I. 364. An active electrode … is then moved over the affected region (labile application) or held firmly over one part (stabile method). Ibid. (1899), VII. 586. A stabile pupil on the same side as the abscess is an important sign.
