stony

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See also: Stony

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English stony, stoni, stani, from Old English stāniġ, stǣniġ (“stony, rocky”), from Proto-Germanic *stainagaz (“stony”), equivalent to stone +‎ -y. Cognate with Scots stany (“stony”), West Frisian stienich (“stony”), Dutch stenig (“stony, metalled”), German steinig (“stony, rocky, gravelly”), Swedish stenig (“stony, rocky, pebbly”).

Pronunciation

Adjective

stony (comparative stonier, superlative stoniest)

  1. As hard as stone.
    Synonym: rock-hard
    Antonym: soft
  2. Containing or made up of stones.
    Synonyms: pebbly, rocky, shingly
    a stony path
    • 2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 443:
      The track was stony with a grassy camber up the middle.
  3. (figuratively) Of a person, lacking warmth and emotion.
    Synonyms: cold, cool, hard-hearted, heartless, impassive, unemotional, unfeeling
    Antonyms: passionate, warm
    • 2012 March 19, David Denby, “Everybody Comes to Rick’s: “Casablanca” on the Big Screen”, in The New Yorker‎:
      When Victor Laszlo leads the demoralized French in the “Marseilles,” and even Yvonne, the chippy who is sleeping with a Nazi officer, joins in, the stoniest intellectual collapses in tears.
  4. (figuratively) Of an action or expression such as a look, showing no warmth of emotion.
    Synonyms: cold, cool, frosty, unwelcoming
    Antonyms: welcoming, warm
    She gave him a stony reception.
    • 1817 December, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “The Revolt of Islam. ”, in [Mary] Shelley, editor, The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. , volume I, London: Edward Moxon , published 1839, →OCLC, page 264:
      o’er the heaps of dead, / Whose stony eyes glared in the morning light, / I trod; […]
    • 1977 April 9, “Mailer Mauls "Perverts"”, in Gay Community News, page 2:
      The Oscar-thrilled audience reacted to Mailer's attempt at humor in stony silence.
  5. (UK and Australia, slang) Short for stony broke: without any money.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:impoverished

Derived terms

Translations

broke — see broke

References

Anagrams

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Inherited from Old English stāniġ, from Proto-West Germanic *stainag, from Proto-Germanic *stainagaz; equivalent to ston +‎ -y.

Pronunciation

Adjective

stony

  1. Comprised or composed of stone or rock
  2. Made or built of stone or rock
  3. Covered in stones or pebbles
  4. Inhabiting a stony environment
  5. (figurative) emotionless; stolid
  6. (medicine) hard, solid

Descendants

  • English: stony
  • Scots: stany

References

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia