staunch¹ (stônch, stänch) also stanch (stônch, stänch, stănch)
adj., staunch·er, also stanch·er, staunch·est, also stanch·est.

1. Firm and steadfast; true. See synonyms at faithful.
2. Having a strong or substantial construction or constitution.

[Middle English staunche, from Anglo-Norman estaunche, from estaunchier, to stanch, variant of Old French estanchier. See stanch¹.]

staunchly staunch'ly adv.
staunchness staunch'ness n.

USAGE NOTE   Staunch is more common than stanch as the spelling of the adjective. Stanch is more common than staunch as the spelling of the verb.

staunch² (stônch, stänch)
v.
Variant of stanch¹. See Usage Note at staunch¹.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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