Staunch

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /stɔːn(t)ʃ/

Definitions

1. Unwavering in loyalty or support while being reliably strong in conviction or belief, showing a lasting commitment or attachment
2. Showing steady and dependable loyalty or dedication to a cause or person ; constructed to be secure against leaks or breaches, efficiently holding contents within
3. Demonstrating resolute support and steadfastness without wavering ; designed to prevent any escape of liquid or air by being robust and tightly sealed

Etymology: Staunch comes from the Latin verb "stare," to stand, which also gave English "stand" and "station." Its ancestor was the Vulgar Latin "stanticare," a word built from "stans," standing, and it passed through Old French "estancher," meaning to stop the flow of a liquid. The adjective first meant watertight or solidly made, a sense that gradually shifted toward firmness in the body and then in character. The verb "stanch," to stop bleeding, comes from the same French source, so the adjective and the verb are close cousins. Medieval English used "staunch" of a wound that had stopped bleeding and of a sound, well-built ship that let no water through. The Romance cognates keep the older senses alive: Spanish "estanco" still means airtight or sealed. A second, separate line of descent may run through "stagnum," a Latin word for standing water. Scholars consider this possibility, but the link to the standing-still sense remains uncertain, so the usual story is the "stanticare" route.

Synonyms: steadfast, loyal, dedicated, reliable, faithful

Antonyms: unreliable, fickle, disloyal, wavering, inconsistent