We all know what A.S.A.P means but

[Alana]

What dose S.T.A.T mean ive asked doctors and they dont know

[kags]

I have always thought it is not an acronym, but an abbreviation of the latin word "statim", meaning "immediately". I am sure I will be proven wong very quickly though..........

[worder]

yeah, kags, you are right , stat is an abreviation of statim- instantly, immediately. i learned that when i was taking nursing.

[chatty kathy]

In nursing we always used the word S.T.A.T. to mean immediately. If a doctor said a drug had to be given STAT, that is what it meant.

[flashpig]

is this where statutory comes from. I may be making up this word. It is early in the morning and I am lucky to haaave got as far as I have with the computer thing.

[woofgang]

It think that statutory comes from the latin verb "to stand" stat means "let it stand", ie let it be set as a law....where's QM??

[Quizmonster]

(Here I am, W!) Since you refer to asking 'doctors', Alana, I presume it is the medical abbreviation you are talking about. However, I'm puzzled as to why they did not understand what you meant!

For the 'statim' explanation - plus about 18 other acronym possibilities, click http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?String=e
xact&Acronym=STAT&Find=Find

'Statutory' comes most directly from the Latin 'statutum', meaning 'that which is set up' and that in turn is from the verb 'statuere', meaning 'to set up/cause to stand'. (It's where we get 'statue' from as well.)

[JohnPPotts]

The Latin for stand is sto, stare, steti, statum (to parse it fully) from which we get the word "stEt" (used by printers to leave in an "incorrect" word). I was actually in hospital recently and heard stat used and got the reply (from a nurse) that it was short for "statutory", but why that should mean "immediately" I don't know. "Statim" seems a much more likely root.

[Jetwriter]

Woofgang, STET means "let it stand" - we use it when proof reading to correct a correction (stet v. (-tt-) (usu. written on a proof-sheet etc.) ignore or cancel (the alteration); let the original stand. [Latin, = let it stand])