[a. L. stāmina, pl. of stāmen: see STAMEN 2. For stamina = stamens (Bot.) see STAMEN 3.
The senses explained below arise partly by direct metaphor from the original Latin sense ‘warp of cloth,’ and partly from the frequent classical application of the word to the threads spun by the Fates (see STAMEN 2 a). In some examples the two notions appear to be blended.]
† 1. (As plural.) The native or original (as distinguished from the adventitious) elements and constitution of anything; the nature, structure and qualities of an organism, as existing potentially in its nascent state; the rudiments or germs from which living beings or their organs are developed.
a. 1676. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., 294. The greater and more comprehensive Rudiments and Stamina are laid … before the lesser and derivative parts are formed and compleated; as we shall have occasion to observe when we come to consider the processus generationis of Man and Brutes.
1684. T. Burnet, Th. Earth, I. 191. Others have thought that the long lives of those men of the old world proceeded from the strength of their stamina, or first principles of their bodies.
1692. Bentley, Boyle Lect., v. 20. They must have had some rude kind of Organical Bodies, some Stamina of Life, though never so clumsy.
1718. Chamberlayne, Relig. Philos., I. xvi. § 10. 308. In almost all kinds of Plants and Living Creatures … the former have their Origin in a Seed, and the latter in Stamina.
1741. A. Monro, Anat. (ed. 3), 156. Different Stamina or Rudiments of Teeth are to be observed.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1775), I. 68. Every third man a pigmy!—from the first rudiments and stamina of their existence, never meant to grow higher.
1772. Fletcher, Appeal, Wks. 1795, I. 14. Original sin … is as old as the first stamina of our frame.
1774. Cooper, in Phil. Trans., LXV. 320. It … probably has its existence … originating in the first stamina of the embryo.
1801. Med. Jrnl., V. 568. The stamina of the teeth … are situated in the alveoli.
† b. transf. and fig. Obs.
1691. Baxter, Nat. Ch., Pref. A 2. They may yet become the Agents and stamina of a happy concordant Reformation.
1724. Waterland, Athan. Creed, xi. 158. Some few of the main Stamina, or chief Lines, were taken care of from the first, and made up the first Creeds: particularly the Doctrine of the Trinity briefly hinted.
1741. Warburton, Div. Legat., II. 530. Job’s whole dramatic life lies here in its Stamina.
1752. Fielding, Amelia, IX. v. I am convinced there are good Stamina in the Nature of this very Man.
1779. Johnson, in Boswell (1791), II. 300. Pope may have had from Bolingbroke the philosophick stamina of his Essay.
1795. Burke, Regic. Peace, iv. (1892), 333. Enmity to us … is wrought into the very stamina of its constitution.
1798. Monthly Mag., June, 430. One [charity] … whose growth, from its god-like stamina, has been gigantic…. This is the orphan-house.
1816. Sporting Mag., XLVII. 295. In this group we do not see any thing very good, except certain hints, happy passages, and the stamina of possibly better pictures.
1816. J. Gilchrist, Philos. Etym., 238. He had the stamina of a good writer as well as sound thinker.
† c. humorously. Obs.
1824. Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. Capt. Jackson. A bare scrag … carving could not lessen, nor helping diminish it—the stamina were left—the elemental bone still flourished.
† 2. (As plural; rarely as sing.) The congenital vital capacities of a person or animal, on which (other things being equal) the duration of life was supposed to depend; natural constitution as affecting the duration of life or the power of resisting debilitating influences. Obs.
In 1665 Dr. R. Willis, ‘being called to consult for one of his [the Duke of York’s] sons, gave his opinion in these words, mala stamina vitæ, which gave such offence, that he was never called for afterwards’ (Bp. Burnet, Hist. Own Time, ed. 1823 I. 397). Cf. the following:—
1542. Leland, Naeniae, A v b. Atropos has illi laudes inuidit acerba, Infestaque manu vitalia stamina rupit.
1701. C. Wolley, Jrnl. New York (1860), 60. Such as have the natural Stamina of a consumptive propagation in them.
1771. Foote, Maid of Bath, III. Wks. 1799, II. 230. Men have survived many years such disproportionate marriages as these…. But then their stamina must be prodigiously strong.
1782. H. Walpole, Let. C’tess Ossory, 11 July. Though the relapse will be much more dangerous to Mr. Fox than to Mr. Fitzpatrick, whose stamina are of stouter texture.
1791. Boswell, Johnson, an. 1779, I. 344. He said … it was the bad stamina of the mind, which, like those of the body, were never rectified.
1806. Med. Jrnl., XV. 102. Persons with strong … constitutions are much more slowly acted upon by medicine than those with weakly constitutions…. This patient being of the former stamina, may [etc.].
1823. Gillies, Aristotle’s Rhet., I. v. 180. If the stamina are not sound, disease will soon ensue.
† b. transf. and fig. Obs.
1775. A. Burnaby, Trav., 91. The northern colonies are of a stronger stamina.
1812. Ann. Reg., Gen. Hist., 107. Expressing his conviction that the stamina of the nation were still unimpaired.
1816. J. Scott, Vis. Paris (ed. 5), p. xxv. Here thrive, beyond parallel, by means solely of the popular stamina, institutions for … improving the condition of mankind.
1862. Merivale, Rom. Emp., lxviii. (1865), VIII. 359. The stamina of ancient life were healthier and stronger.
3. (Orig. as plural; now chiefly as sing.) Vigor of bodily constitution; power of sustaining fatigue or privation, of recovery from illness, and of resistance to debilitating influences; staying power.
1726. Swift, Let. Sheridan, 27 July, Wks. 1841, II. 588/1. I indeed think her stamina could not last much longer when I saw she could take no nourishment.
1777. Sheridan, Sch. Scandal, I. i. Who avoid the least breath of air, and supply their want of stamina by care and circumspection.
1818. Byron, Juan, I. cxxv. Some old lady or gentleman … Who’ve made ‘us youth’ wait … For an estate … Still breaking but with stamina so steady That all the Israelites are fit to mob its Next owner for their … post-obits.
1834. M. Scott, Cruise Midge, viii. Why, Sir Oliver, the man is exceedingly willing,… but his stamina is gone entirely.
1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. IV. xviii. (1876), 195. Those whose constitutions had less stamina than our own.
1865. Dickens, Dr. Marigold, viii. Advising him to spend his legacy in getting up his stamina.
1880. W. Day, Racehorse in Training, 225. Has he deteriorated in speed, size, or stamina?
1884. Times, 28 April, 4/2. Lord Falmouth’s horses seemed to possess more speed than stamina.
1885. J. Colborne, Hicks Pasha (ed. 2), 181. Had he been possessed of less stamina and less vitality he must have succumbed.
b. transf. and fig. In various applications: Intellectual or moral robustness and vigor; capacity for perseverance or endurance; also (of things, institutions, etc.) capacity for permanence.
1803. Edin. Rev., Jan., 452. Productions, which have scarcely stamina to subsist until their fruitful parent has furnished us with a new litter.
1828. Alford, in Life (1873), 33. I have no stamina as yet of religious principle.
1844. H. Stephens, Bk. Farm, III. 1230. The stamina of the soil … is … its power of endurance under any system of cropping.
1860. W. Collins, Wom. White, V. Gilmore, iv. (1861), 121. I can’t quarrel … I haven’t stamina enough.
1861. T. A. Trollope, La Beata, xix. II. 252. Not … calculated to encourage the growth of intellectual stamina.
1865. Q. Rev., CXVII. 549. The British Constitution has considerable stamina.
1869. Goulburn, Purs. Holiness, vii. 63. It requires some stamina of character to feel this moral esteem for anyone.
1895. W. B. Thomson, Remin. Med. Mission Work, xvii. 157. The stamina of the people was tested by a persecution that lasted for thirty years.
† 4. (As plur. and sing.) Source of strength, main support, ‘backbone.’ Obs.
1779. A. Hamilton, Wks. (1886), VII. 577. The stamina of their military establishment are in this country.
1781. E. Rutledge, in Sparks, Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853), III. 389. The Continentals, whom I consider as the stamina of the army.
1792. Mary Wollstonecraft, Vind. Rights Wom., 110. The stamina of immortality, if I may be allowed the phrase, is the perfectibility of human reason.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 450. The soil is the public stock, the great capital, the stamina of the nation.
