stanch

UK /stɑːn(t)ʃ/US /stɔn(t)ʃ/

verb 8
adverb 1
noun 1
forms 7

verb8

•
To stop the flow of (blood); also, to stop (a wound) from bleeding.
- A small amount of cotton can be stuffed into the nose to stanch the flow of blood if necessary.
•
[with oneself] Of bleeding: to stop.
- [G]iving a dram and a half of Lapis Prunellae in cold VVater, presently the blood stanched vvhen the same and other Medicines could not formerly do it. — 1655
•
(literary) To stop the flow of (water or some other liquid).
- I will couer the depe vpon him, I will staunch his floudes, and the greate waters shalbe restrayned. — 1535
•
(literary) To make (a building or other structure) watertight or weatherproof.
- His gathered sticks to stanch the wall / Of the snow-tower, when snow should fall; […] — 1847
•
To check or stop, or deter (an action).
- [T]heir feud would be stanched by the death of one, or probably both, of the villains, […] — 1828
•
To stop the progression of (an illness); also, to alleviate (pain); often followed by of: to relieve (someone's) pain.
- It [squill] stancheth the ache of the stomack⸝ it helpeth digestion⸝ and maketh a man well colored. — 1562
[with oneself] (no longer used) Of an occurrence or other thing: to come to an end; to cease; also, of persons: to stop acting violently.
•
(no longer used) To extinguish or put out (as a fire, anger, etc.); also, to quench or satisfy (as desire, hunger, thirst, etc.).
- [A]s an angry Cur / Snarles vvhile he feeds, so vvill I seize and stanch / The hunger of my love on this proud beauty, / And leave the scraps for Slaves. — 1679

adverb1

•
(no longer used) Possibly strictly.
- But you vvill lose your Labour, and vvhat is more, their Love and Reverence too, if they can receive from others, vvhat you deny them. This is to be kept very stanch, and carefully to be vvatched. — 1693

noun1

A floodgate by which water is accumulated, for floating a boat over a shallow part of a stream by its release; also, a dam or lock in a river.

forms

stanched · stanchedst · stanching · stanches · stancheth · more stanch · most stanch