outstarev.
/ˌaʊtˈstɛː/, U.S. /ˌaʊtˈstɛ(ə)r/ transitive. To stare longer or harder than; to discomfit by staring; to look at (the sun, etc.) without blinking or flinching. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (transitive)] > stare or gaze at
bestarec1220
bigapea1250
to gape atc1290
fix14..
to stick one's eyes in (also into)c1485
attacha1500
porec1500
to take feeding (of)c1500
stare1510
(to have) in gaze1577
gaze1591
outstare1596
over-stare1600
devour1628
trysta1694
ogle1795
begaze1802
toise1888
fixate1889
rubberneck1897
eyeball1901
the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > treat impudently [verb (transitive)] > oppose or confront impudently
face1465
overfacec1475
outface?1499
to face down (also out)1530
out-countenancec1585
outstare1596
outlook1599
nose1632
to stare down1798
out-breast1839
1596 A. Copley Fig for Fortune 61 T'was heauen to see what Rain-bowe rayes it yeelded Whiles euerie gem ambitiously contended T'out-stare each others starry neighbourhed.
1602 J. Marston Antonios Reuenge iii. v. sig. E4v I will..Outstare the terror of thy grimme aspect.
1646 R. Crashaw Steps to Temple 129 The Eagles eye, that can Out-stare the broad-beam'd Dayes Meridian.
1679 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Trag. Thierry & Theodoret I. i. 450 These truths are no mans tales, but all mens troubles, They are, though your strange greatness would out-stare u'm.
1734 H. Carey Trag. Chrononhotonthologos 11 I'll tear thine Eye-balls from their Leaden-sockets, And force thee to outstare Eternity.
1799 J. Grahame Wallace ii. vii. 44 The tyrant's frown, his furious eye I'll meet, Nor lower mine.—I could outstare the sun!
1855 P. J. Bailey Mystic 47 He sate and all the stars outstared, Gazing them down, dog, centaur, eagle, bull.
1879 G. Meredith Egoist I. xv. 287 The prospect offered to her courage if she would only outstare shame and seem at home in the doings of wickedness.
1901 ‘G. Douglas’ House with Green Shutters xi. 99 Remembering their first encounter the grocer tried to outstare him, but Gourlay hardened his glower and the grocer blinked.
1943 K. Tennant Ride on Stranger v. 48 He dived under the seat as they drew in at a station. The ranks drew together and out-stared the ticket-examiner.
1988 M. Atwood Cat's Eye (1989) ii. 4 Cordelia sits..staring blankly at the other people with her grey-green eyes... She can outstare anyone.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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