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stanch¹

(stônch, stänch, stănch) also staunch (stônch, stänch)

tr.v. stanched, stanch·ing, stanch·es also staunched or staunch·ing or staunch·es

1. To stop or check the flow of (blood or tears, for example).

2. To stop the flow of blood from (a wound).

3. To stop, check, or allay: "My anxiety is stanched; I am at peace" (Scott Turow). See Usage Note at staunch¹.

[Middle English stanchen, from Old French estanchier, from Vulgar Latin *stanticāre, to stop, probably from Latin stāns, stant-, present participle of stāre, to stand; see stā- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

stancher n.

stanch²

(stônch, stänch, stănch)

adj.

Variant of staunch¹. See Usage Note at staunch¹.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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