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firm; steadiness; firmness; strength to stand without being moved or overthrown; as, the stability of a structure; the stability of a throne or a constitution.

Automatic stability; also, inherent stability. An aëroplane is inherently stable if it keeps in steady poise by virtue of its shape and proportions alone; it is automatically stable if it keeps in steady poise by means of self-operative mechanism.

Capacity of being odious. [R.] Carlyle.

The quality or state of being incontestable.

The quality or condition of being unstable; want of stability, firmness, or steadiness; liability to give way or to fail; insecurity; precariousness; as, the instability of a building.

Fig.: That which gives stability or security; that on which we place dependence for safety. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul. Heb. vi. 19.

his standard, and returned to their ordinary avocations. Macaulay. An irregularity and instability of purpose, which makes them choose the wandering avocations of a shepherd, rather than the more fixed pursuits of agriculture. Buckle.

That which is behind, and forms the back of, anything, usually giving strength or stability.

To increase and strengthen; to increase the power and stability of; to settle, or establish, and preserve; -- frequently with up; as, to build up one's constitution. I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up. Acts xx. 32.

To form a final judgment; to reach a decision. Can we conclude upon Luther's instability Bp. Atterbury. Conclude and be agreed. Shak.

The state or quality of being constant or steadfast; freedom from hange; stability; fixedness; immutabilitu; asm the constancy of God in his nature and attributes.

a sloop. A cutter is narrower end deeper than a sloop of the same length, and depends for stability on a deep keel, often heavily weighted with lead.

e state, etc. Diseases desperate grown, By desperate appliances are relieved. Shak. The instability, injustice, and confusion introduced into the public counsels have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have every where perished. Madison. Disease germ. See under Germ.…

The quality of being fickle; instability; inconsonancy. Shak.

Strength; stability. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Strength; firmness; stability. [Obs.] Chillingworth.

The state or quality of being fixed; stability; steadfastness.

Uncertainty; instability. Johnson.

The quality or condition of being fugitive; evanescence; volatility; fugacity; instability.

Uncertainty; doubtfulness; doubt. The incertitude and instability of this life. Holland. He fails . . . from mere incertitude or irresolution. I. Taylor.