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Antonyms for staff

Grammar : Noun
Spell : staf, stahf
Phonetic Transcription : stæf, stɑf


Definition of staff

Origin :
  • Old English stæf "walking stick, strong pole used for carrying, rod used as a weapon" (also, in plural, "letter, character, writing," cf. stæfcræft "grammar"), from Proto-Germanic *stabaz (cf. Old Saxon staf, Old Norse stafr, Old Frisian stef, Middle Low German and Middle Dutch staf, Old High German stab, German Stab, Gothic *stafs "element;" Middle Dutch stapel "pillar, foundation"), from PIE root *stebh- "post, stem, to support, place firmly on, fasten" (cf. Old Lithuanian stabas "idol," Lithuanian stebas "staff, pillar;" Old Church Slavonic stoboru "pillar;" Sanskrit stabhnati "supports;" Greek stephein "to tie around, encircle, wreathe," staphyle "grapevine, bunch of grapes;" Old English stapol "post, pillar").
  • Sense of "group of military officers that assists a commander" is attested from 1702, apparently from German, from the notion of the "baton" that is a badge of office or authority (a sense attested in English from 1530s). Meaning "group of employees (as at an office or hospital)" is first found 1837. Staff of life "bread" is from the Biblical phrase "to break the staff of bread" (Lev. xxvi:26), translating Hebrew matteh lekhem.
  • noun employees of organization
  • noun stick, usually for walking
Example sentences :
  • Behold me with staff and scrip, footing it merrily in the Land of Pardons.
  • Extract from : « Ballads of a Bohemian » by Robert W. Service
  • The youth pondered, and drew a plan amongst the rushes with the point of his staff.
  • Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle
  • The staff had fallen into the way of attending Wilson's operations.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • The hospital did not approve of engagements between nurses and the staff.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • The staff went hopelessly down the stairs to the smoking-room, and smoked.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • Along the road from Sils came the teacher leaning on his staff.
  • Extract from : « Rico and Wiseli » by Johanna Spyri
  • His dismissal from the staff was a wise move, tempered by unexpected clemency.
  • Extract from : « Thoroughbreds » by W. A. Fraser
  • This staff, in fact, was the oddest-looking staff that Philemon had ever beheld.
  • Extract from : « The Miraculous Pitcher » by Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • He drew his sword and came at me, and I killed him with my staff.
  • Extract from : « Fair Margaret » by H. Rider Haggard
  • A king's staff of office, the sign and symbol of his authority.
  • Extract from : « The Devil's Dictionary » by Ambrose Bierce

Synonyms for staff

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019