| 释义 |
▪ I. † stark, n.1 Sc. Obs.
[? Corrupt form of stake n.1 (sense 5 b; in our quots. not before 1853).]
Some implement used in dressing leather.
1541Aberdeen Reg. (1844) I. 176 Item, ane stark to vork the ledder vpoun, with thair feytt.
▪ II. † stark, n.2 Obs.—0.
[? Corruption of start in redstart.]
The redstart.
1611Cotgr., Rossignol de muraille, a Starke, a Red-tayle.
▪ III. stark, a. and adv.|stɑːk|
Forms: 1–2 stearc, 1 starc, 2–3 sterc, 2–6 sterke, 3 stærc, starc, Ormin starrc (pl. starrke), 3–4 starck, 3–6 sterk, (3 sterch, 6 Sc. starge), 4–7 starcke, starke, 3– stark.
[Com. Teut.: OE. stearc corresponds to OFris. sterk (WFris. sterk, NFris. stark), OS. stark (MLG. stark, sterk), OHG. stark, starach (MHG. stark, starch, mod.G. stark), ON. sterk-r (Da. sterk), OSw. stark-er (Sw. stark):—OTeut. *starku-; the declension is attested by the fluctuation between umlaut and non-umlaut forms. The weak grade of the root (OTeut. *sturk-) is found in Goth. gastaurknan, OHG. kistorchanên to grow rigid, Icel. storkna to coagulate, ON. styrk-r strength, styrk-r strong. Outside Teut., probable cognates are Lith. stregti to become frozen, mod.Pers. suturg strong.
Some of the cognates suggest that the sense ‘stiff, rigid’, which is rare exc. in English, may be more original than the sense ‘strong’, which prevails in the other Teut. langs.]
A. adj.
1. Hard, unyielding.
†a. Of a material substance: Hard, rigid. Obs.
c1000ælfric Saints' Lives I. 196 Stanas maᵹon hnexian and þæt starce isen on leades ᵹelicnysse. c1200Ormin 999 & oþerr stund itt bakenn wass Full harrd & starrc inn ofne.
b. Of a person, his heart, etc.: Hard, obdurate. Also in good sense, firm, unyielding. Obs. exc. arch.
a900Cynewulf Elene 565 (Gr.) Heo wæron stærce, stane heardran, noldon þæt ᵹeryne rihte cyðan. c1175Lamb. Hom. 5 Ne beo þu þereuore prud ne wilde ne sterc ne wemod ne ouer modi. c1200Ormin 1596, & ᵹiff þin heorrte iss harrd & starrc, & stedefasst o Criste. c1205Lay. 23678 Strong mon wes Frolle and sterc mon on mode. c1400Cato's Morals in Cursor M. App. iv. 33. 1669 If richesse come þe rife..be noȝt starke to freindis, spende þou fulle hertli..þi gift wiþþe weindis. c1440Ps. Penit. (1894) 43 Crist ihesu..was nothur starke ne stef, But ever was louly in word and chere. 1589R. Bruce Serm. (1590) S 5, Swa then, wald thou knaw, quhither thy faith be strong or not, quhither thy perswasion of Gods mercie, be starke or not? 1836Gen. P. Thompson Exerc. (1842) IV. 91 Against Tallow⁓plots, however, the Whig government was stark.
†c. Of a judgement: Stern, inflexible. Obs.
c1200Ormin 8802 He ᵹifeþþ himm..witt & mihht to drædenn Godd & hise starrke domess. a1225Ancr. R. 144 Þe sterke dom of domesdei.
†d. Sc. Of a question, a science: Hard, difficult. Obs.
1456Sir G. Haye Bk. Gov. Princes (S.T.S.) 111 No traist nocht in ignorant mennis wordis that sais..that the science of thaim [sc. the stars] is sa stark that nane may knaw it. Ibid. 140 Here speris the doctour a stark questioun.
2. Violent, harsh, severe.
†a. Of natural agencies: Fierce or violent in operation; hard, harsh, rough, severe.
a1000Colloq. ælfric in Wr.-Wülcker 90 Nys hyt swa stearc winter [aspera hyems] þæt ic durre lutian æt ham. a1225St. Marher. 9 Ant al warð þat stude of strong and starc stench. a1225Juliana 78 Þer arisen stormes starcke & stronge & breken þe schipes bord. a1240Lofsong in Cott. Hom. 211 Þeo sterke stremes and þet flod þet fleaw of þine wunden moncun uor to helen. c1250Owl & Night. 524 Ac hwenne nyhtes cumeþ longe, & bryngeþ forstes starke & stronge. c1320Seuyn Sag. (W.) 2123 The clerkes to the stage stale, And bet a fir strong and sterk. 1338R. Brunne Chron. (1725) 174 Þe hungre was so grete, & þe cold so stark. 1460Lybeaus Disc. 1766 A fere stark and store Was lyght and brende bryght. 1597Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 1529 The streim is thair sae stark,..It suld be idle wark. 1606A. Craig Amor. Songs (1872) 133 And though the streams be stark, I through the waltring waues shall swim.
†b. Of persons: Stern, harsh, severe. (Cf. sense 1 b.) Obs. exc. arch. in echoes of quot. a 1122.
c1000ælfric Hom. I. 362 He [John Baptist] ða heardheortan Iudeiscre ðeode mid stearcre ðreale and stiðre myngunge to lifes weᵹe ᵹebiᵹde. a1122O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1086, He wæs..ofer eall ᵹemett stearc þam mannum þe wiðcwædon his willan. c1205Lay. 9197 Ah he wes swiðe sturne & stærc wið þeon folke. 1869Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) III. xii. 183 William was already beginning to show himself..beyond measure stark to all who withstood his will. 1876Tennyson Harold ii. ii, For he is only debonair to those That follow where he leads, but stark as death To those that cross him. 1891Q. Rev. July 190 This great Emperor was stark to all the opponents of Christianity.
†c. Of living, treatment, circumstances, etc.: Attended with hardship, harsh, severe. Of a wound: Severe. Obs.
c1000ælfric Hom. I. 148 He nolde awendan his ᵹewunelican biᵹleofan..ac ða stiðnyssa his stearcan biᵹleofan..on his life ᵹeheold. c1290St. Sebastian 48 in S. Eng. Leg. 179 With quareles and with Arewene: heo maden him woundes starke. 1338R. Brunne Chron. (1725) 21 Tille Elfride oure kyng com tiþinges starke. Ibid. 98 Bot Henry þink it stark, þat he is charged so.
†d. Of an instrument of torture or punishment: Inflicting severe pain, cruel. Obs.
c1000ælfric Hom. I. 428 Ða het he hine wædum bereafian, and mid stearcum stengum beatan. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 127 Weste was his wunienge and stark haire of oluente his wede. a1225Leg. Kath. 1925, & let þurhdriuen þrefter þe spaken & te felien mid irnene gadien; swa þat te pikes & te irnene preones se scharpe & se starke borien þurh. c1380Sir Ferumb. 2118 Furst sche tok out þe croune sterk; þat crist on is heued let. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xxxiv. 77 God, that evir I chaip, Nor ane stark widdy gar me gaip, Bot I in hell for geir wald be. 1508Kennedie Flyting w. Dunbar 413 A stark gallowis, ane wedy, and a pyn, The hede poynt of thyne elderis armes ar. 1549Compl. Scot. iii. 28 Than the father takkis ane batton or sum vthir sterk vappin to puneise his sonne.
†e. Of fighting or contention: Vehement, fierce. Obs.
c1205Lay. 4171 Þat fæht wes swuðe strong & swuðe stær [c 1275 starc] & swuðe longe. Ibid. 4036 Sterce weren þe reæmes mid stronge raflake. c1250Owl & Night. 5 (Jesus MS.) Þat playd wes stif & starc & strong. Ibid. 1176 Þe vle..yef answere stark & stronge. c1380Sir Ferumb. 3241 Þan at þe furste þe Assaut by-gan sterk & strait to be. 1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 121 He wist wele, and he had scapit, he wald nocht have cessit to mak him starkare were than before.
f. Of climate or weather: Harsh, inclement. (See quot. 1878.) Now dial.
1611B. Jonson Catiline i. i, Cet. The North is not so starke, and cold. 1878Dickinson Cumbld. Gloss., Stark weather, continued dry and cold north and east winds. 1913Daily Graphic 24 Mar. 12/1 The season is early, the weather stark and unpromising.
†g. stark at the rent (see quot.). dial. Obs.
1683G. M[eriton] Praise of Ale 51 And yet you say your Farme is starke att'th Rent [ed. 1685 starke 'oth Rent; but Gloss. has Stark at the Rent, is very dear at the Rent.]
3. Strong, stout, powerful.
†a. Of a structure or material: Strong, substantial. Obs.
c1205Lay. 189 He makede enne stronge castel mid starke ston walle. c1290St. Brendan 124 in S. Eng. Leg. 223 Þis hound ladde þis holi man to an halle..Gret & starc. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xlv. (Christina) 10 He mad a toure of lyme & stane, a starkare mocht be fundine nan. 1460Lybeaus Disc. 710 Thanne sawe they yn a park A castell stout and stark. 1529Registr. Aberdon. (Maitland Club) I. 396 To big agan þe said brig..als stark and substantious as we resave þe samyn. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 685 Anwik castell that wes starge and strang. a1572Knox Hist. Ref. Wks. 1846 I. 177 [He] cryed, ‘Fyre, fyre,’ (for the door was verray stark). 1609Extracts Rec. Convent. Burghs Scot. (1870) II. 284 All cowperis sall mak their hering barrellis ticht, stark, and sufficient treyis. 1755R. Forbes Ajax' Sp., Shop Bill vii, Fare may be had..The starkest hose that can be made. 1794[W. Anderson] Piper of Peebles 6 (E.D.D.) The sarks were few, An' very stark, but no that saft.
b. Of a weapon: Strong, massive, stout. arch.
c1205Lay. 21227 Arður þe ræie Ron [i.e. his spear] nom an honde he stræhte scaft stærcne stiðimoden king. a1300Havelock 380 In his hand a spere stark. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xix. (Christopher) 339 Quhen þat christofore þis prayere had mad..his staf, þat was sture & stark, was cled with lewis, & with bark. 1895Crockett Men of Moss-Hags vi. 47 The crossbar and simple Italian guard of Wat Gordon's lighter weapon seemed as if it must instantly be beaten down by the starker weapon of the dragoon.
c. Physically strong or powerful; lusty, robust, sturdy, vigorous; occas. † strong (of sight). arch.
c1250Long Life 11 in O.E. Misc., Nis non so strong ne sterch [v.r. sterk] ne kene Þat mai ago deaþes wiþer-blench. a1310in Wright Lyric P. xxx. 87 Ne is no quene so stark ne stour,..that ded ne shal by-glyde. 13..K. Alis. 5527 Ich wil thee yiue of golde a mark, And a stede strong and stark. c1384Chaucer H. Fame 545 Me caryinge in his clawes starke. 1552Abp. Hamilton Catech. (1884) 24 Lat nocht the sterk man glore in his strenth. 1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xix. (Arb.) 249 There be some fowles of sight so prowd and starke, As can behold the sunne, and neuer shrinke. 1641Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 19 Throwe..your lambes oute of the penne, for feare that your starke sheepe treade them under foote. 1721Ramsay Prospect of Plenty 183 A nation, healthfu' wise, and stark. 1787Burns Old Farmer's Salut. Mare iv, He gied me thee An' fifty mark; Tho' it was sma' 'twas weel-won gear, An' thou was stark. 1805Scott Last Minstr. i. xxi, A stark moss-trooping Scott was he. 1836W. Irving Astoria (1849) 158 The loss of two stark hunters and prime riflemen was a serious affair to the party. 1895Crockett Men of Moss-Hags xxv, The dragoons were stark fellows and had seen service.
†d. Strong in authority, dominion, rule, arms; powerful, mighty. Obs.
a1300Havelok 341 In þat time..Was in þe lon[d] of Denemark, A riche King, and swyþe stark. 1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 6840 He was bysshope and patryarke Of Constatynë, noble starke. 1338― Chron. (1725) 45 Now rises Eilred, & gadres oste stark. 1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 13 The maa miraclis, the starkar was haly kirk. For ay the faith grewe starkar and starkare. Ibid. 28 For the office of knychthede suld have stark place in governaunce. 1543St. Papers Hen. VIII, V. 588 All that be His Highnes servauntes and frendes must make theim starke, and to make the most frendes they can. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 138 Frome yrland he sayles to Scotland, wt a strang and starke armie. 1807J. Barlow Columb. vii. 339 Now roll, with kindling haste, the long stark lines, From wing to wing the sounding battle joins.
†e. Of a cause of wonder, also (Sc.) of a reason: Strong. Obs.
c1250Owl & Night. 1473 Wunder me þinkþ stark & sor [MS. Cott. starc & stor] Hw enymon [etc.]. 1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 120 And ȝit ane othir mare stark resoun is for the decreis sais that [etc.]. 1587–8Reg. Privy Council Scot. IV. 242 Upoun bettir avisement and starkare ressonis. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 50 Of quhilke a stark rasone they vse to collecte, that in..riueris in Irland, quhilkes..ar bath maist cleir, and maist pure, Salmonte in gretter number thair ar takne.
† f. Of action: Vigorous. Sc. Obs.
a1557Diurn. Occur. (Bannatyne Club) 11 And in this mene tyme was stark watcheing in Edinh about kingis grace. a1578Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) II. 195 That nycht the towne of Edinburgh keipit ane stark watch in the towne.
g. Of liquor, † poison: Strong, potent. Obs. exc. Sc.
1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 103 b, Cantharis is a litle litle vermyn..but hauyng in it starke poyson. a1578Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 186 The Duik of Albanie send his..servand..for the wyne and prayit him to send of the best and starkest. 1622Fletcher Beggars Bush iii. i, [Second Boor] Stark beer boy, stout and strong beer. 1633Orkney Witch Trial in Dalyell Darker Superst. Scot. (1834) 153 Becaus the oyle was not stark enuch, he gat some aquavite to make it starker. 1870J. K. Hunter Life Studies of Char. vi. 40 The gudeman and his wife had several tastings till it came to the right thing, the wife remarking that it was a stark dram [of whisky]. 1898Crockett Standard Bearer xiv, Doon at the clachans the stark Hollands flowed like water in a running spate.
†h. Of colour: Strong, dark. Obs.
1547Recorde Urinal Physick 67 Greene is a compownde colour of blew and yellow..and the right greene have I in this booke called a starke greene.
4. Rigid, stiff, incapable of movement.
a. Of the (muscles of the) body or limbs: Lacking suppleness and pliability (through weakness or over-exertion, fear, age, cold, or the like); † also, of the senses, the blood, the eyes (obs.).
c1300–20Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1903) 243 Starke waren his armes Hi-spred opon þe rode. c1325Gloss. W. de Bibbesw. in Wright Voc. 148 De genuler serroynt trop redz [gloss stiffe v.r., MS. Camb. starke]. a1340Hampole Psalter, Canticles (1884) 506 Obriguerunt omnes habitatores chanaan... All þe woners of chanaan wex starke... Þai sall wax stark for drede & wa. c1440York Myst. xxxviii. 395 [Soldier.] I myght not stande, so was I starke [with fright]. c1460Towneley Myst. iii. 268 My bonys ar so stark, No wonder if thay wark, ffor I am full old. c1520Skelton Magnyf. 481 A knokylbonyarde wyll counterfet a clarke; He wolde trotte gentylly, but he is to starke. 1542Boorde Dyetary viii. (1870) 247, I do aduertyse you not to.. syt by the fyre..for fyre..doth make sterke the synewes & ioyntes of man. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. i. 44 And downe did lay His heauie head,..Whose sences all were straight benumbd and starke. 1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts 402 [The Mallander] will make a horse go stark, and stumble much. 1647H. More Cupid's Conflict lxxvii, The clearest truths may well seem dark When sloathfull men have eyes so dimme and stark. 1660F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 334 We had not strength to make another [bridge of planks] we were so num'd and stark [printed strark], with the cold. a1800Pegge Suppl. Grose, Stark, stiff, from too much exercise, or from the rheumatism, &c. 1817Shelley Revolt Islam iii. xviii, I sought to close mine eyes, But like the balls, their lids were stiff and stark. 1838Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. i. Nurse's Story, But, ere he can vent one inquisitive sniff, That little pug-dog stands stark and stiff. 1886S.W. Linc. Gloss. s.v., The rheumatis' has left my leg a bit stark.
b. Rigid, stiff (in death).
1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. iv. i. 103 Each part depriu'd of supple gouernment, Shall stiffe and starke, and cold appeare like death. 1611― Cymb. iv. ii. 209 [Enter Aruiragus, with Imogen dead.] Bel. How found you him? Arui. Starke, as you see. 1609Holland Amm. Marcell. 136 The bodies of the Persians slaine, waxe drie and starke as stakes. 1839Longfellow Wreck Hesperus xiii, A frozen corpse was he. Lashed to the helm all stiff and stark. 1865Kingsley Herew. vi, They left nought behind them save stark corpses.
c. Of material things: Rigid, stiff; not supple or flexible.
a1400Stockh. Medical MS. i. 64 in Anglia XVIII. 296 Ley it on þe hed þat hath gret werk, And het yt ageyn, whann it is stark. c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 926 How cuthbert child stode on his croune..; In his playng a wondir harke, his clathes aboute his leggys stode starke. Ibid. 950. 1591 G. Fletcher Russe Commw. ii. 4 You shall sensibly feele your breath to waxe starke, and euen stifeling with the colde, as you draw it in and out. 1713Derham Phys.-Theol. x. i. 453 So soon as this spring is become stark enough, it suddenly breaks the Case into two Halfs..and so flings the Seed. 1854A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss., Stark or Starky, stiff, dry. 1883Bridges Prometheus 1271 O heavenly fire,..O spirit of rage and might, Who canst unchain the links of winter stark. 1889N.W. Linc. Gloss. s.v., This smock's a deal oher stark, I can't wear it while [= until] its weshed.
d. transf. of immaterial things.
1847Emerson Repr. Men iv. Montaigne Wks. (Bohn) I. 340 The Spartan and Stoic schemes are too stark and stiff for our occasion. 1851Gladstone Glean. VI. xlii. 29 We seem to require an elasticity of system..which is in entire contrast with our rather stark and rigid methods. 1876F. Harrison Choice Books (1886) 53 There is much in the method and genius of the French drama which falls chill and stark on ears accustomed to the abounding life of a Shakspearean play.
e. Of a rope, etc.: Taut, tight, not slack. north.
1641Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 61 For that the bandes will blowe aside with the winde, and the rigginge blowe away, if you do not minde to pull the bandes downe starke. 1788W. H. Marshall Yorksh. II. 356 Stark; tight;..as a stark rope.
f. Of land: Hard with drought. dial.
c1740A. Allen MS. Gl. (E.D.D.) When y⊇ ground is parch't and chop't wth droughth, they say y⊇ ground is stark. 1854A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss. s.v., The ground is so stark, the seeds will not come up.
g. Of landscape or an object in a landscape: Stiff in outine or formation; hence, bare, barren, desolate.
1833H. Martineau Charmed Sea iv. 64 Snow was heaped on the eastern mountains, and tumbled in huge masses among the stark, black rocks at their base. 1847Emerson Poems (1857) 199 Not of adamant and gold Built he heaven stark and cold. 1872C. King Sierra Nevada xii. 258 Among rigid crater rims and stark fields of volcanic sand. 1898Conan Doyle Trag. Korosko v, How cool and beautiful that green looked in the stark, abominable wilderness!
5. a. Sheer, absolute, unqualified.
c1400Rom. Rose 7292 But unto you dar I not lye: But mighte I felen..That ye perceyved it no-thyng, Ye shulden have a stark lesing Right in your hond. 1530Proper Dyaloge 509 in Rede Me etc. (Arb.) 149 By seynt mary syr that is a starcke lye. a1553Udall Royster D. i. iii, But it will be starke nyght before I shall haue done. 1594Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits xv. (1596) 309 The whole..is in my conceit a starcke leasing, and verie mockerie. 1611B. Jonson Catiline i. i. 693 Consider first the starke securitie The common wealth is in now. a1661B. Holyday Juvenal (1673) 182 To escape starke beggery. 1701Collier M. Anton. (1726) 292 Let all this be done out of stark love and kindness. 1776Johnson in Boswell Life an. 1728, Boswell: That, Sir, was great fortitude of mind. Johnson: No, Sir; stark insensibility. 1820Shelley Vis. Sea 3 From the stark night of vapours the dim rain is driven. 1839W. Irving Chron. Wolfert's Roost (1855) 185 It was stark midnight before they landed at Communipaw. 1852H. Rogers Eclipse of Faith 373 [They were convinced] that the only orthodox belief in such a world was stark Atheism. 1898F. T. Bullen Cruise ‘Cachalot’ 333 When a stark calm left the surface of the bay as smooth as a river.
b. Qualifying an unfavourable appellation of a person: Arrant, thorough, unmitigated.
c1375Sc. Leg. Saints v. (John) 401 He lefit þe bischope, & vent þan to sterk thefis. 1529More Dyaloge ii. Wks. 181/2 He..neuer can be cast out being a stark heretique. 1530Rastell Bk. Purgat. iii. xv. 5 He shall be proved a very stark fole that wyll beleve that there is no purgatorye. 1545R. Ascham Toxoph. i. (Arb.) 94 Yet if he giue it ouer, and not vse to shote..he shal become of a fayre archer, a stark squyrter and dribber. 1641Brome Joviall Crew, ii, I mean stark, errant, downright Beggars, I, Without equivocation; Statute Beggars. a1711Ken Serm. Wks. (1838) 123 Beauty is often incident to stark fools. 1817Shelley Revolt Islam xi. xii, 'Tis but a crowd of maniacs stark. 1877Talmage Serm. 260 Before we make stark fools of ourselves, let us stop pressing this everlasting ‘Why’.
6. = stark naked.
1762H. Walpole Let. C'tess Ailesbury 5 Mar., What dreadful discoveries will be made both on fat and lean! I recommend to you the idea of Mrs. Cavendish, when half-stark. 1817Shelley Revolt Islam iii. xiii, They bore me to a cavern..And one did strip me stark. 1885–94Bridges Eros & Psyche March xxx, Behind came Tritons..Green-bearded, tail'd like fish, all sleek and stark. 1898J. Buchan John Burnet of Barns iii. vii. 255 Slowly..they began to disrobe themselves..till they stood before me..as stark as the day they were born.
fig.1876M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma 55 If all the law they were thinking of stood, stark and written, before their eyes already? 1891Hardy Tess v, He felt the necessity of recommencing with a name..less commonplace than the two original bald stark words.
B. adv. (In 13th c. with advb. ending † sterke.)
1. In a ‘stark’ manner; † firmly, strongly (Obs.); strenuously, vigorously, ‘hard’; boldly, stoutly.
c1205Lay. 16683 Samuel nom Agag..& lædde hine a þan cheping & lette hine swiðe sterke to ane stake binde. 1794Har'st Rig lxv, Now kempen fo'k, they dinae lo'e They work sae stark. 1900C. Lee Cynthia in West v. 82 One young chap asked a maid the question, and she said ‘no’, and said it brave and stark.
2. To the fullest extent or degree; absolutely, utterly, quite. Cf. stark a. 5.
a. qualifying an adj., esp. mad (occas. wild, wood), drunk, dumb; also Naut. in stark calm. Also stark naked, stark naught.
This use seems to have begun with stark blind, and to have arisen through taking stark in stark dead as an intensive adverb. The adv. is often hyphened with the following adj., esp. when used attributively.
1489Skelton Death Earl Northumbld. 50 I say, ye comoners, why wer ye so stark mad? 1561J. Daus tr. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573) 125 Our Religion is true, and yours starke false. 1573G. Harvey Letter Bk. (Camden) 133 If the marke I not hitt Saye he is starke wood. 1579–80North Plutarch, Lycurgus (1595) 63 They forced them sometimes to drinke wine..till they had made them starke drunke. 1590Shakes. Com. Err. ii. i. 59. 1593 G. Harvey Pierce's Super. Wks. (Grosart) II. 235 Iwis hee mought haue spied a difference..betwene raging, and starke-madd. 1593Nashe Four Lett. Conf. Wks. (Grosart) II. 261 His conscience accuseth him, hee is stroke starke dumbe. c1595Capt. Wyatt R. Dudley's Voy. W. Ind. (Hakl. Soc.) 52 Havinge somtimes most soden gustes and againe in a moment beinge starke becalmed. 1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. i. i. 69. Ibid. iii. ii. 55 His horse..starke spoyl'd with the Staggers. 1620Dekker Dream 26 Ten thousand Salamanders (whose chill thawing Puts Bonfires out), their starke-stiffe lunges were gnawing. 1624Capt. Smith Virginia v. 182 In the evening it grew starke calme. 1661Pepys Diary 23 Apr., We drank the King's health..till one of the gentlemen fell down stark drunk, and there lay. 1683P. Lorrain tr. Muret's Rites of Funeral 191 In his days it seem'd to be yet stark new. 1719De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 19 Going a fishing in a stark calm Morning. a1721Prior Poems, Cromwell & Porter 281 You may study among the Law givers without being stark wild about Ordinances and Proclamations. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. vi, But every body was, for the moment, stark-mad on the subject of Porteous. 1823W. Scoresby Jrnl. 390 It fell stark calm. 1870Morris Earthly Par. II. iii. 45 And, stark awake, with beating heart He put the hawthorn twigs apart.
b. qualifying staring, raving ppl. adjs., sometimes used quasi-advb., esp. in stark raving or stark staring mad. Also stark ravers (slang): see ravers a.
In later use the collocation stark staring is often felt as a mere strengthening of stark adv. or adj.
1532Dice Play A viij, R. Euery Player..payeth a Crowne..towards the house charges. M. Ye may fare well of that price at the stark-staring stews. 1548Udall etc. Erasm. Par. Luke vi. 6–11 Thei are turned into stercke staryng madnesse. 1562J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. P, I thinke it as good, by ought I can deuise, To be starke staryng blinde, as thus to haue eies. 1575Gascoigne Posies, Fruites Warre cvii, The tide skarce good, the winde starke staring naught. 1648J. Beaumont Psyche xii. xxxii, Stark raving she and roaring prov'd. 1693Dryden Persius v. 212 Art thou of Bethlem's Noble College free? Stark, staring mad. 1734Fielding Intriguing Chambermaid ii. vi. I find I am distracted! I am stark raving mad! 1788Wesley Wks. (1872) VI. 322 It is such stark-staring nonsense, as every man of sense ought to be utterly ashamed of. 1839Hood Lost Heir 23 Oh Lord! oh dear, my heart will break, I shall go stick stark staring wild! 1849Cupples Green Hand viii. (1856) 71 One morning when Westwood and I went on deck, it was a stark staring calm. 1870M. Bridgman R. Lynne I. xii. 189 He must be stark staring mad. 1894Mrs. H. Ward Marcella II. 263 The whole thing is stark staring lunacy. 1958E. Dundy Dud Avocado iii. vi. 270 My first thought was that I had gone stark raving mad..and that I was now hallucinating in a looney bin. 1968[see cool v. 5 b].
†c. qualifying tire, weary vbs. (Cf. stark a. 4.)
1553T. Wilson Rhet. 75 Antisthenes made suche a long oracion, that he starke weried all his hearers. a1661B. Holyday Juvenal (1673) 146 Whiles he strives to perfect the boy, he starke tires himself.
d. qualifying an adv. or advb. phrase.
1668Shadwell Sullen Lovers ii. i, O' my conscience thou art stark out of thy wits. 1863Kinglake Crimea II. 307 No other light infantry men were thrown forward in their stead, and the whole body went stark on with bare front. 1899‘Zack’ [Gwendoline Keats] On Trail xvii. 148 I've half a mind to turn him stark out o' the house.
▪ IV. stark, v.|stɑːk|
Also 6 starck, 6–7 sterk.
[OE. stearcian, f. stearc stark a. Cf. OHG. starcên to become strong.]
†1. intr. To become stiff or rigid; to coagulate, solidify. Obs.
c1000Gloss. Prud. in Germania (1878) XI. 402/56 Riget, stearcode. a1300Cursor M. 1845 Þe stormes starked wit þe wind. c1325Gloss. W. de Bibbesw. in Wright Voc. 149 Les nerfs de bewor engurdisst [gloss] starken. 14..Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1903) 250 Wonne..þin hew dunnet: and þi sennewess starket. c1530Judic. Urines ii. vi. 27 It causeth rigor Anglice starkyng and racchyng for colde. a1618Sylvester Hymn of Alms 185 Wks. (Grosart) II. 210 To stark for Cold, to starve for Food.
2. trans. To make stiff. arch.
1862Sir H. Taylor St. Clement's Eve v. v. Wks. 1864 III. 198 Arise, if horror have not stark'd your limbs.
†3. To strengthen, make stout or strong. Obs.
c1470Henry Wallace xi. 892 And Iohn Wallang, was than schyreff off Fyff, Till Wallace past, starkyt him in that stryff. 1562Turner Baths 8 This bath..sterketh and streingtheneth verye muche the broken place.
Hence † starked ppl. a., hardened, stiffened.
c1425Lydg. Horse, Goose & Sheep 388 It..Causith men starkid bonys to recure; Dede synnewis restorith a-geyn to live. |