stay
[stey]
verb, stayed or staid, stay·ing, noun

verb (used without object)
1.to spend some time in a place, in a situation, with a person or group, etc.: He stayed in the army for ten years.

2. to continue to be as specified, as to condition or state: to stay clean.

3. to hold out or endure, as in a contest or task (followed by with   or at ): Please stay with the project as long as you can.

4. to keep up, as with a competitor (followed by with ).

5. Poker . to continue in a hand by matching an ante, bet, or raise.

6. to stop or halt.

7. to pause or wait, as for a moment, before proceeding or continuing; linger or tarry.

8. Archaic . to cease or desist.

9. Archaic . to stand firm.

verb (used with object)
10. to stop or halt.

11. to hold back, detain, or restrain, as from going further.

12. to suspend or delay (actions, proceedings, etc.).

13. to appease or satisfy temporarily the cravings of (the stomach, appetite, etc.).

14. to remain through or during (a period of time): We stayed two days in San Francisco.

15. to remain to the end of; remain beyond (usually followed by out ).

16. Archaic . to await.

noun  17. the act of stopping or being stopped.

18. a stop, halt, or pause; a standstill.

19. a sojourn or temporary residence: a week’s stay in Miami.

20. Law . a stoppage or arrest of action; suspension of a judicial proceeding: The governor granted a stay of execution.

21. Informal . staying power ;   endurance.

Idiom
22. stay the course, to persevere; endure to completion.