stationary

stationary
stationary, stationery
Stationary is an adjective and means ‘not moving’ whereas stationery is a noun and denotes paper and writing materials. Both words are derived from the Latin word stare ‘to stand’. The relevance of this to stationary is obvious, and the connection with stationery (and stationer, a supplier of stationery) is through the medieval Latin word stationarius which meant ‘a bookseller’, who was a fixed (as distinct from itinerant) shopkeeper.

Modern English usage. 2014.

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  • Stationary — Sta tion*a*ry ( [asl]*r[y^]), a. [L. stationarius: cf. F. stationnaire. Cf. {Stationer}.] 1. Not moving; not appearing to move; stable; fixed. [1913 Webster] Charles Wesley, who is a more stationary man, does not believe the story. Southey. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stationary — can mean: In statistics and probability: a stationary process. In mathematics: a stationary point. In mathematics: a stationary set. In physics: a time invariant quantity, such as a constant position or temperature. In physics: a steady state… …   Wikipedia

  • stationary — ► ADJECTIVE 1) not moving. 2) not changing in quantity or condition. USAGE Take care to distinguish between stationary and stationery: stationary is an adjective meaning ‘not moving or changing’, whereas stationery is a noun meaning ‘paper and… …   English terms dictionary

  • Stationary — Sta tion*a*ry, n.; pl. { ries} ( r[i^]z). One who, or that which, is stationary, as a planet when apparently it has neither progressive nor retrograde motion. Holland. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • stationary — [stā′shə ner΄ē] adj. [ME stacionarye < L stationarius < statio: see STATION] 1. not moving or not movable; fixed or still 2. unchanging in condition, value, etc.; not increasing or decreasing 3. not migratory or itinerant n. pl.… …   English World dictionary

  • stationary — index firm, permanent, stable, stagnant, standing, static, steadfast Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton …   Law dictionary

  • stationary — late 14c., in relation to planetary motions, from L. stationarius, in classical Latin, of a military station, from statio (see STATION (Cf. station)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • stationary — [adj] not moving; fixed anchored, at a standstill, immobile, inert, moored, motionless, nailed*, nailed down*, parked*, pat*, permanent, stable, stagnant, standing, static, stock still, unmoving; concepts 488,551 Ant. mobile, moving, restless,… …   New thesaurus

  • stationary — adj. 1 remaining in one place, not moving (hit a stationary car). 2 not meant to be moved; not portable (stationary troops; stationary engine). 3 not changing in magnitude, number, quality, efficiency, etc. (stationary temperature). 4 (of a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • stationary — [[t]ste͟ɪʃənri, AM neri[/t]] ADJ: usu ADJ n Something that is stationary is not moving. Stationary cars in traffic jams cause a great deal of pollution... The train was stationary for 90 minutes …   English dictionary

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