Obs. Also 3–4 stablen, 3–6 stabil, 3, 5–6 stabul, 4 stabil(l)e, 4–5 stabel, stabulle, 4–6 stabill, -yl, -yll(e, (stabelyn). [Variant of ESTABLE v., a. OF. establir:—L. stabilīre, f. stabili-s STABLE a. Cf. ESTABLISH, STABLISH vbs.]
1. trans. To make stable, in various senses; to strengthen, render firm or fixed; to render steadfast; to bring into a secure or permanent condition; to confirm, ratify.
a. 1300. Birth of Jesus, 110, in Horstm., Alteng. Leg. (1875), 70 (Ashm. MS.). Vche ȝer also ioachim to þe temple wende Þre siþe, to stable [v.r. stablen] his biheste, ȝif god him eny sende.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19262. Cristen kirc, þan it bigan, Yeit was it noght stablid [Fairf. stabeled] þan.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 244. Wardeyns gode he sette, to stabille þe lond.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 178. Þis bileve shulde stable men to stonde stifly in Goddis cause.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Merch. T., 1161 (Harl. MS. 1758). Till that your sight stablid [v.rr. y-stabled, I-stabled, ysatled] be a while Ther may full many a sight you be-gile.
a. 1400–50. Bk. Curtasye, 169, in Babees Bk. When þou ministers at þe heghe autere, With bothe hondes þou serue þo prest in fere, Þe ton to stabulle þe toþer Lest þou fayle, my dere broþer.
c. 1400. Beryn, 1976. Sith I the fynde in suche plyte, our bargain for to stabill, Wee woll tofore þe Steward, þere we both shull have riȝte.
c. 1400. Love, Bonavent. Mirr. (1907), 212. In feithe also he enformed hem and stabled hem more perfitely in byleue of his godhede.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 471/2. S(t)abelyn, or make stable and stede … stabilio, solido.
c. 1450. Myrr. our Ladye, 297. Forsothe god hathe stabeled the erthe, whiche shall not be meued.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), II. 569. Stabyll your syghtes, and look ye not stunt.
1501–2. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., II. 140. To David Grame, to pas to Glasgo to stabill his procuratouris and to mak his expens on his pley, lvj s.
1538. Starkey, England, I. ii. 42. Man, stablyd and confyrmyd wyth perfayt and sure hope.
1545. Raynald, Byrth Mankynde, 148. To stable & stedfast the teathe and to kepe the gumms in good case.
b. To base or ground (an argument, etc.) upon.
1521. Fisher, Serm. agst. Luther, i. Wks. (1876), 313. The fyrst .iij. instruccyons … shall vndermyne .iij. great groundes wher vpon Martyn doth stable in maner all his articles.
2. To put or set up in a certain position or place, or in a safe or firm place. To stable up: to collect and place; pass. to have taken one’s stand.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24628. Fra me ne wald þai na wight tuin, Til i com til mi cosin in, Þar stabild þai mi stall.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xliv. (Lucy), 163. My patrimone haf I stablit in sa sekire place quhare foule corrupcion neuir ves.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 1091. May þou oȝt, lede, þe ȝonder lawe lyft on þi schulder, And stire it oute of þe stede & stable in a-nothire? Ibid., 1367. To stable vp a grete strenthe all on store schipis, Hugir be þe halfe dele & hiȝere þan þe toþire.
c. 1475. Hunting Hare, 109. When that ye bin stabult up, I wylle ryde and putt her [the hare] yp.
3. To ordain permanently, establish, fix, institute; to appoint, settle.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 25429. Þou þat has þis werld all wroght, And stabuld it in skill.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 1604. Þys [sixth] comaundment ys of prys, For hyt was stabled yn paradys.
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 54. In septembre yis fraternite is funded & stabeled.
1423. City Lond. Cal. Let. Bk. I (1909), 294. It is ordeyned and stabled that payement be made anon upon such purveaunce made.
1516. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 328. Be hit [the ordinance] ordeynyd and stablyd, by þe M. and Wardens.
1538. Starkey, England, I. i. 16. The same law … ys so stablyd and set, that [etc.].
1538. Elyot, Dict., Statuo, to ordayne, to determyne, to set faste, to stable a thinge.
4. To establish, install or secure in a possession, office or dignity, etc.
1300–1400. R. Glouc. (Rolls), App. xx. 400. Þis king duc henri to sone þo nom & stablede him þer his eir of þis kinedom.
a. 1340. Hampole, Ps. ii. 6. I am stabild kynge [Vulg. constitutus sum rex].
1473. Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879), I. 190. Gif he thinks he ma do better to stabil hym in othir placis.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, V. xii. 182. Ane hallowit schaw … as sanctuar, Plantit thai haif, and stabillit preistis thair.
b. To secure to (a person, or oneself).
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot., III. vii. (1821), I. 87. This Guiderius, seing the realme stabillit to him, thocht hevy, that the Britonis suld leif under servitude of Romanis. Ibid., VI. xvii. 238. We mon othir be vincust … or ellis to be victouris, and stabill oure landis to us with glore, honoure, and permanent eis.
5. ? To hold fast.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxiii. 187. Sir, oure strength myght not stabill tham stille.
a. 1593. Marlowe, Ovid’s Elegies, I. ix. 39. Mars in the deed the black-smithes net did stable.
6. intr. a. To come to a stand, cease from action; to refrain (from tears).
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. I. 120. Til god of his goodnesse gan stable [v.r. stablisse] and stynte.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 3386. Who might stithly absteyne, or stable of teris, Þat prestly were pricket with paynes so fele?
b. To become stable.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, I. 10. Of alegeaunce now lerneth a lesson oþer tweyne Wher-by it standith and stablithe moste—By drede, or by dyntis or domes vntrewe [etc.]. Ibid., III. 249. Iche rewme vndir roff of þe reyne-bowe Sholde stable and stonde be þese þre degres.
