stăbĭlĭo, īvi, ītum (sync. imperf. stabilibat, Enn. Ann. 44), 4, v. a. [stabilis], to make firm, steadfast, or stable; to fix, stay, establish (class.; esp. in the trop. sense).
I Lit.: semita nulla pedem stabilibat, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 20, 40 (Ann. v. 44 Vahl.): eo stabilita magis sunt, Lucr. 3, 202; cf.: confirmandi et stabiliendi causā singuli ab infimo solo pedes terrā exculcabantur, * Caes. B. G. 7, 73: vineas, Col. 4, 33, 1: loligini pedes duo, quibus se velut ancoris stabiliunt, Plin. 9, 28, 44, § 83.—
II Trop.: regni stabilita scamna solumque, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 48 fin. (Ann. v. 99 Vahl.): alicui regnum suom, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 39; cf.: libertatem civibus, Att. ap. Cic. Sest. 58, 123: rem publicam (opp. evertere), Cic. Fin. 4, 24, 65; so, rem publicam, id. Sest. 68, 143: leges, id. Leg. 1, 23, 62: nisi haec urbs stabilita tuis consiliis erit, id. Marcell. 9, 29: matrimonia firmiter, id. Rep. 6, 2, 2: pacem, concordiam, Pseud.- Sall. Rep. Ordin. 1 fin. (p. 267 Gerl.): res Capuae stabilitas Romana disciplina, Liv. 9, 20: nomen equestre in consulatu (Cicero), Plin. 33, 2, 8, § 34: (aegrum) ad retinendam patientiam, to strengthen , fortify him , Gell. 12, 5, 3.