Remain

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈmeɪn/

Definitions

1. to continue to exist in the same state or condition without changing or leaving
2. to persist in a certain state or location without altering or departing while other conditions may change or vary
3. To stay in a particular place or condition without moving or changing ; to exist or continue to be present after others have been removed or used up

Etymology: The Latin root is "manere," meaning "to stay," and the English verb descends from its compound "remanere," which combined "re-" (back, again) with that core sense. The idea behind "remain" is therefore simply staying put, or staying behind when everything else has moved on. Latin passed the word through Old French as "remanoir" before it reached Middle English as "remainen." English already had a native verb for this job. Old English "belīfan" meant "to remain, stay," and its Middle English descendant "beliven" or "bliven" was the everyday word for it. Over time "beliven" merged with "beleven," meaning "to leave behind," and the two became confused. The borrowed "remain" eventually took over, leaving the native word to fade away.

Synonyms: stay, continue, persist, last, endure

Antonyms: leave, depart, go, vanish, disappear