| Stagnate | v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Stagnated p. pr. & vb. n. Stagnating. ] [ L. stagnatus, p. p. of stagnare to stagnate, make stagnant, from stagnum a piece of standing water. See Stank a pool, and cf. Stanch, v. t. ] 1. To cease to flow; to be motionless; as, blood stagnates in the veins of an animal; hence, to become impure or foul by want of motion; as, air stagnates in a close room. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To cease to be brisk or active; to become dull or inactive; as, commerce stagnates; business stagnates. [ 1913 Webster ] Ready-witted tenderness . . . never stagnates in vain lamentations while there is any room for hope. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ] |
