Lewis & Short

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stăbĭlis, e, adj. [sto, prop. where one can stand; hence, pregn.], that stands firm; firm, steadfast, steady, stable (class.; esp. in the trop. sense; syn.: firmus, constans).

  1. I. Lit.: via plana et stabilis (opp. praeceps et lubrica), Cic. Fl. 42, 105: locus ad insistendum, Liv. 44, 5, 10: solum, id. 44, 9, 7: stabulum, Plaut. Aul. 2, 2, 56: domus, id. Merc. 3, 4, 68: medio sedet insula ponto, Ov. F. 4, 303: per stabilem ratem tamquam viam, Liv. 21, 28, 8: elephanti pondere ipso stabiles, id. 21, 28, 12: stabilior Romanus erat, was more firm, stood his ground better, id. 44, 35, 19; cf.: stabili gradu impetum hostium excipere, id. 6, 12, 8; Tac. H. 2, 35; cf.: Romani stabili pugnae assueti, Liv. 28, 2, 7: pugna, id. 31, 35, 6: acies, id. 30, 11, 9: proelium, Tac. A. 2, 21: quae domus tam stabilis, quae tam firma civitas est, quae? etc., Cic. Lael. 7, 23: stabilis pulsus, a steady pulse, Plin. 11, 37, 89, § 219: venae aquarum, steadily flowing, id. 30, 3, 28, § 48.
  2. II. Trop., firm, enduring, durable, stable; immutable, unwavering; steadfast, intrepid (syn.: firmus, constans, certus): fundamentum, Lucr. 5, 1121: amici firmi et stabiles et constantes, Cic. Lael. 17, 62: stabilem se in amicitiā praestare, id. ib. 17, 64: stabile et fixum et permanens bonum, id. Tusc. 5, 14, 40: decretum stabile, fixum, ratum, id. Ac. 2, 9, 27: stabilis certaque sententia (opp. errans et vaga), id. N. D. 2, 1, 2: urbs sedem stabilem non habebit, id. Marcell. 9, 29: matrimonium stabile et certum, id. Phil. 2, 18, 44: stabilis et certa possessio, id. Lael. 15, 55: praecepta firma, stabilia, id. Off. 1, 2, 6: opinio, id. N. D. 2, 2, 5: oratio stabilis ac non mutata, id. Mil. 34, 92: nihil est tam ad diuturnitatem memoriae stabile quam, etc., id. de Or. 1, 28, 129: animus stabilis amicis, id. Inv. 1, 30, 47: virtus, Quae maneat stabili cum fugit illa (Fortuna) pede, Ov. Tr. 5, 14, 30.
    Of springs: aquae certae, stabilesque et salubres, unfailing, perennial, Plin. 31, 3, 28, § 48: eam (summam voluptatem) tum adesse, cum dolor omnis absit: eam stabilem appellas (opp. in motu), i. e. a fixed state or condition, Cic. Fin. 2, 23, 75.
    Of feet, syllables, etc., in verse: spondei, Hor. A. P. 256; so, pedes, dochmius, syllabae, etc., Quint. 9, 4, 97 sq.: stabilia probant, i. e. consisting of such feet, etc., id. 9, 4, 116.
    Comp.: imperium stabilius, Ter. Ad. 1, 1, 41.
    Sup.: quaestus stabilissimus, Cato, R. R. praef. fin.
        1. * b. Stabile est, with subject-clause, like certum est, it is settled, it is decided: profecto stabile’st, me patri aurum reddere, Plaut. Bacch. 3, 4, 25.
          Hence, adv.: stăbĭlĭter (acc. to I.), firmly, durably, permanently (very rare): includatur tympanum, Vitr. 10, 14.
          Comp.: fundare molem, Suet. Claud. 20.