stay

/ˈstā/

Middle English, from Old English stæg; akin to Old Norse stag stay

noun

  1. a large strong rope usually of wire used to support a mast

  2. guy

verb

  1. to secure upright with or as if with stays

  2. to incline (a mast) forward, aft, or to one side by the stays

  3. to go about : tack

verb

  1. to stop going forward : pause

  2. to stop doing something : cease

  3. to continue in a place or condition : remain

defer postpone suspend stay mean to delay an action or proceeding. defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time. postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time.