Stick v. i.
1. To adhere; as, glue sticks to the fingers; paste sticks to the wall.
The green caterpillar breedeth in the inward parts of roses not blown, where the dew sticketh. --Bacon.
2. To remain where placed; to be fixed; to hold fast to any position so as to be moved with difficulty; to cling; to abide; to cleave; to be united closely.
A friend that sticketh closer than a brother. --Prov. xviii. 24.
I am a kind of bur; I shall stick. --Shak.
If on your fame our sex a bolt has thrown,
'T will ever stick through malice of your own. --Young.
3. To be prevented from going farther; to stop by reason of some obstacle; to be stayed.
I had most need of blessing, and “Amen”
Stuck in my throat. --Shak.
The trembling weapon passed
Through nine bull hides, . . . and stuck within the last. --Dryden.
4. To be embarrassed or puzzled; to hesitate; to be deterred, as by scruples; to scruple; -- often with at.
They will stick long at part of a demonstration for want of perceiving the connection of two ideas. --Locke.
Some stick not to say, that the parson and attorney forged a will. --Arbuthnot.
5. To cause difficulties, scruples, or hesitation.
This is the difficulty that sticks with the most reasonable. --Swift.
To stick by. (a) To adhere closely to; to be firm in supporting. “We are your only friends; stick by us, and we will stick by you.” --Davenant. (b) To be troublesome by adhering. “I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me.” --Pope.
To stick out. (a) To project; to be prominent. “His bones that were not seen stick out.” --Job xxxiii. 21. (b) To persevere in a purpose; to hold out; as, the garrison stuck out until relieved. [Colloq.]
To stick to, to be persevering in holding to; as, to stick to a party or cause. “The advantage will be on our side if we stick to its essentials.” --Addison.
To stick up, to stand erect; as, his hair sticks up.
To stick up for, to assert and defend; as, to stick up for one's rights or for a friend. [Colloq.]
To stick upon, to dwell upon; not to forsake. “If the matter be knotty, the mind must stop and buckle to it, and stick upon it with labor and thought.” --Locke.
◄ ►