stalemate

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stale·mate / ˈstālˌmāt/ • n. Chess a position counting as a draw, in which a player is not in check but cannot move except into check. ∎  a situation in which further action or progress by opposing or competing parties seems impossible: the war had again reached stalemate.• v. [tr.] bring to or cause to reach stalemate: [as adj.] (stalemated) the currently stalemated peace talks.

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