staunch

1. Not permitting water or some other liquid to escape or penetrate; watertight.Examples: "[T]vvas very difficult to procure a Bladder ſmall and fine enough for that litle Cylinder; and that one, vvhich at length vve procured, vvould not continue ſtanch for many Tryals, but vvould after a vvhile part vvith a litle Air in the vvell exhauſted Receiver, vvhen tvvas clog'd vvith the utmoſt VVeight it could ſuſtain: but vvhilſt it continued ſtanch vve made one fair Tryal vvith it, […]"Synonyms: hermetically sealedbroadly

2. (figuratively)Examples: "Without our staunch front line the enemy would have split the regiment."; "VVe may commend / A Gentlemans modeſty, manners, and fine language, / […] / Yet, though he obſerue, and vvaſte his ſtate vpon vs, / If he be ſtanch and bid not for the ſtocke / That vve vvere borne to traffick vvith; the truth is / VVe care not for his company."; "In Politicks, I hear, you're ſtanch, / Directly bent againſt the French; / Deny to have your free-born Toe / Dragoon'd into a VVooden Shoe: […]"Synonyms: constant, determined, persistent, steadfast, unwavering, unyielding, unswervingfiguratively

3. (figuratively)Examples: "He’s been a staunch supporter of mine through every election."; "[T]here ain't a stauncher-hearted gal going, or I'd have cut her throat three months ago."; "Never at any time in its history has there been so much universal anger at and criticism of the Southern. The railway's staunchest friends must concede that most of it is justified."figuratively

4. (figuratively)Examples: "[T]he horſemen & huntſmen ſhould blemiſh at ſuch places as they ſee the Hart enter into a thicket or couert to the end that if the hounds fall to change, they may return to thoſe blemiſhes, and put their hounds to the right ſlot and view, vntill they haue rowzed or found him againe with their bloudhound, or with ſome other ſtanch old hound of the kennell, in the which they may aſſie themſelues. For old ſtaunch houndes which will not hunt change, when they ſee an Hart rowzed & before them, they neuer call on, nor once open: but if they be young raſh houndes, they will runne with full cry & ſo take change."; "For, scarce a spear's length from his haunch, / Vindictive toiled the blood-hounds staunch; […]"; "Beatte especially, was as staunch as a veteran hound."figuratively

5. (figuratively)Examples: "It is good to be very ſtaunch and cautious of talking about other Men and their Concernments, in vvay of paſſing Characters on them, or deſcanting upon their Proceedings for vvant of other Diſcourse: This is the common refuge of Idleneſs, and the practice of fidling Goſſips, vvho becauſe they vvill do nothing themſelves, muſt be reflecting upon the doings of others; […]"Synonyms: guardedfigurativelyobsolete

6. (figuratively)Synonyms: adamant, ardent, bent on, bloody-minded, bullheaded, certain, chronic, confirmedAntonyms: compromising, transigentfiguratively