(adj.adv.) : 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).
* 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.
* 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.—*
* 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.