Stag″nate (stăg″nāt), v. i. [imp. & p. p.Stagnated (@–nā̍‐tĕd); 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.
2. To cease to be brisk or active; to become dull or inactive; as, commerce stagnates; business stagnates.
Ready-witted tenderness... never stagnates in vain lamentations while there is any room for hope. Sir W. Scott.