different between stationary vs steadfast

English

Etymology

From Latin stationarius, from statio, ultimately from st? (“to stand”). Doublet of stationer.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?ste??(?)n(?)?i/
• (US) enPR: st??sh?-n?r'?, IPA^(key): /?ste????n??i/
• Homophone: stationery
• Hyphenation: sta?tion?ary

Adjective

stationary (not comparable)

1. Not moving.

   The train remained stationary for a few moments, before lurching forward along the track.

2. incapable of being moved
3. unchanging

Synonyms

• (not moving): fixed, immobile, motionless, still, stock-still, unmoving
• (incapable of being moved): immobile, unmoveable
• (unchanging): changeless, constant, immutable, unchanging

Antonyms

• (not moving): in motion, moving, on the move
• (incapable of being moved): mobile, moveable
• (unchanging): changing, mutable, variable

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

stationary (plural stationaries)

1. One who, or that which, is stationary, such as a planet when apparently it has neither progressive nor retrograde motion.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Holland to this entry?)

2. Misspelling of stationery.

See also

• stationary point
• stationery

English

Alternative forms

• stedfast (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English stedefast, from Old English stedefæst, from Proto-Germanic *stadifastuz, equivalent to stead (“place; spot; position”) +? fast (“firm; fixed”). Cognate with Middle Dutch stedevast (“steadfast”), Icelandic staðfastur (“steadfast”), Danish stedfast (“firmly attached, secured”), Danish stadfæste (“to confirm; ratify”), Norwegian Bokmål stadfeste (“confirm, ratify; establish”), Swedish stadfästa (“to confirm; establish”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?st?dfæst/

Adjective

steadfast (comparative steadfaster or more steadfast, superlative steadfastest or most steadfast)

1. Fixed or unchanging; steady.
2. Firmly loyal or constant; unswerving.

Derived terms

• steadfastly
• steadfastness

Translations