frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

lap; status, condition: We have to reach the third stage before
going on to the fourth. 2 platform, dais, podium; rostrum:
After the performance, the audience threw flowers onto the
stage. 3 the stage. show business, the theatre, the boards, the
footlights, Broadway, Chiefly Brit the West End; acting,
Thespianism; Colloq showbiz: That first burst of applause
decided her to make the stage her career.
--v. 4 put on, produce, present, mount, exhibit: If we can't
get the theatre, why don't we stage the show in Mr Kimble's
barn? 5 put on, contrive, organize, originate, devise, make up,
concoct, fake, trump up, stage-manage, manipulate, manoeuvre:
It seems that the enthusiastic reception given his wife had been
staged solely for his benefit.
stagger v. 1 totter, reel, lurch, teeter, sway, walk unsteadily or
shakily, pitch, rock, wobble: When he staggered in, they
thought he was drunk till they saw the knife in his back. I was
already staggering under the burden of a heavy mortgage and
three children and two elderly parents to care for. 2 surprise,
amaze, astound, astonish, overwhelm, overcome, dumbfound or
dumfound, shock, stupefy, stun, nonplus, floor, confound,
bewilder, startle, jolt, shake (up), take one's breath away,
make one's head swim, take (someone) aback, throw (someone) off
balance, tax, burden, Colloq flabbergast, flummox, bowl over,
Slang blow (someone's) mind: The cost of cleaning up the oil
spill will be staggering. He was staggered by her announcement.
3 alternate, space (out), vary, rearrange, zigzag, US change
off: Working hours will be staggered during the holiday period.
We could strengthen the structure by staggering the positions of
the columns.
stagnant adj. motionless, standing, still, quiet, sluggish, unmoving,
immobile, flat; stale, foul, putrid, putrescent, putrefied,
polluted, dirty, contaminated, filthy: The malarial mosquitoes
thrive in pools of stagnant water in the tropical swamps.
stagnate v. languish, idle, vegetate, deteriorate, degenerate, decline,
go to seed or pot, decay, rust, moulder, decompose, spoil, rot:
He felt he had stagnated in a backwater of civilization for far
too long.
staid adj. sedate, rigid, stiff, prim, dignified, sober, calm,