staunch2
[stawnch, stahnch]
- firm or steadfast in principle, adherence, loyalty, etc., as a person: a staunch Republican; a staunch friend.
- characterized by firmness, steadfastness, or loyalty: He delivered a staunch defense of the government.
- strong; substantial: a staunch little hut in the woods.
- impervious to water or other liquids; watertight: a staunch vessel.
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Also stanch.
Origin of staunch2
1375–1425; late Middle English sta(u)nch < Middle French estanche (feminine), estanc (masculine), derivative of estancher to stanch1
Synonyms
See more synonyms for staunch on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for staunchness
Historical Examples
It was old Frank's staunchness that brought calamity upon him.
Frank of Freedom HillSamuel A. Derieux
He might be unscrupulous, he might be unreliable, but he stood by himself for staunchness and the will to help.
Young BloodE. W. Hornung
But what they lacked in warcraft they redeemed in staunchness.
Northern SpainEdgar T. A. Wigram
They induced the French to respect the staunchness of the German spirit.
History of the Jews, Vol. V (of 6)Heinrich Graetz
The gallant regulars resisted with the staunchness of their professional esprit, and refused to yield an inch.
staunch1
- loyal, firm, and dependablea staunch supporter
- solid or substantial in construction
- rare (of a ship, etc) watertight; seaworthy
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Word Origin
C15: (originally: watertight): from Old French estanche, from estanchier to stanch
staunch2
- a variant spelling of stanch
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for staunchness
staunch
adj.
early 15c., "impervious to water," from Old French estanche "firm, watertight," fem. of estanc "dried, exhausted, wearied, vanquished," from Vulgar Latin *stanticare, probably from Latin stans (genitive stantis), present participle of stare "to stand," from PIE root *sta- "to stand" (see stet). Sense of "strong, substantial" first recorded mid-15c.; of persons, "standing firm and true to one's principles" from 1620s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper