Stale, a. [Akin to stale urine, and to stall, @n.@; probably from Low German or Scandinavian@. Cf@. Stale, v. i.] 1. Vapid or tasteless from age; having lost its life, spirit, and flavor, from being long kept; as, stale beer.
2. Not new; not freshly made; as, st@ale bread.
3. Having lost the life or graces of youth; worn out; decayed. “A stale virgin.” Spectator.
4. Worn out by use or familiarity; having lost its novelty and power of pleasing; trite; common. Swift.
Wit itself, if stale is less pleasing. Grew.
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world! Shak.
Stale affidavit(Law), an affidavit held above a year. Craig. — Stale demand(Law), a claim or demand which has not been pressed or demanded for a long time.