still

adverb (still); adjective (still, stiller, stillest); noun (a still — a single photo from a film); verb (still — to make calm, poetic)

«still» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

Still means even now, or up to this time. tree →
Still means not moving, or calm and quiet. tree →
Still means even so, in spite of that. tree →
Still can make a comparison stronger: «still more», «still better». tree →
Still water or still drinks have no bubbles. tree →
(casual) «Still» at the end of a sentence means anyway, even so: «Lost the match. Good game, still.» (UK); «you still there?» checks if someone is listening. tree →
(rude) «Are you still here?» or «still waiting…» can be cross or sarcastic. tree →
(formal) Exams say «remain», «yet to be», «outstanding», «nevertheless», «notwithstanding» and «stationary» (not moving). tree →

In the lessons

marks the amount that is left or not yet done: «still has», «still needs»; in stories, «stand still», «sit still», «still water»; phrases «still has», «keep still», «still life» (a painting of objects), «still to come»; in casual talk «still», «you still there?», «still got 2 left?»; in rough talk «are you still going on about it?», «still waiting, mate»; in the exam voice «the number of pages yet to be read», «the outstanding balance», «a stationary vehicle»

Examples

She still has 12 apples. tree →
He still needs 5 more dollars. tree →
How many pages does she still have to read? tree →
There are still 8 birds. tree →
Keep still while I take the photo. tree →
The lake was still and quiet. tree →
It was raining, but we still went out. tree →
The baby is still asleep. tree →
Still or sparkling water, love? tree →
U still got them 2 tickets? tree →
Are you still going on about that one chip? tree →
Of a book of 120 pages, 45 have been read. Determine the number of pages yet to be read. tree →
But Night stood still and mute. tree →

Note

«still has» points to what is left; «still needs» points to a difference (target − done). «yet to be read» and «outstanding» in an exam mean still left. Trap: «still» does not mean add. «Still» = even so (but) and «still» = not moving are different senses. «stationary» in an exam means not moving.

In Jewish tradition

Here "still" mostly means "yet" or "even now," as in going on "still" toward the South. In the Prophets and Psalms it also means quiet and not moving, as in "rest, and be still," and it can mean continuing to do something, as in "they sinned still."

Interpretation. The prophet's call to the sword to "be still" is read as a longing for an end to war. The psalm's "sinned still" is read as showing how long Israel continued to doubt God despite His wonders.

Examples

And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South. (Torah GEN.12.9, JPS 1917) tree →
For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, (Torah EXO.9.2, JPS 1917) tree →
And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was still some way to come to Ephrath; and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. (Torah GEN.35.16, JPS 1917) tree →
Put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still. (Prophets JER.47.6, JPS 1917) tree →
That he should still live alway, that he should not see the pit. (Writings PSA.49.10, JPS 1917) tree →
For all this they sinned still, and believed not in His wondrous works. (Writings PSA.78.32, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Early Modern English

Meaning

Continually or always, going on without stopping. tree →

Then and now

Today still usually means even now, or without moving. The first sentence uses the old sense of continually; the second uses today's sense of motionless; the third uses today's sense of even now.

Examples

And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South. (Torah GEN.12.9, JPS 1917) tree →
But Night stood still and mute. (Andersen's Fairy Tales) tree →
Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of any specific book is allowed. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →

Note

Today: always, continually.

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «still» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«still» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «still» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«still» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «still» in the Early Modern English dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«still» in the Early Modern English dictionary on Mova free.

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