Stab
Stab (stab) , transitive verb
[Compare OD. staven to fix, fasten, from stave, staff, a staff, rod; akin to German stab a staff, stick, English staff; also Gael. stob to stab, as n., a stake, a stub. Compare Staff.]
1.
To pierce with a pointed weapon; to wound or kill by the thrust of a pointed instrument; as, to stab a man with a dagger; also, to thrust; as, to stab a dagger into a person.
2.
Figuratively: To injure secretly or by malicious falsehood or slander; as, to stab a person's reputation.
Stab , intransitive verb
1.
To give a wound with a pointed weapon; to pierce; to thrust with a pointed weapon.
None shall dare
With shortened sword to stab in closer war.
2.
To wound or pain, as if with a pointed weapon.
She speaks poniards, and every word stabs.
Collocations (1)
To stab at , to offer or threaten to stab; to thrust a pointed weapon at.
Stab , noun
1.
The thrust of a pointed weapon.
2.
A wound with a sharp-pointed weapon; as, to fall by the stab of an assassin. — Shakespeare
3.
Figuratively: An injury inflicted covertly or suddenly; as, a stab given to character.