v. [Back-formation from next or STAR-GAZING.] intr. To gaze at or study the stars. Also transf. and fig.; esp. to gaze intently at something compared to a star.
1626. Shirley, Maid’s Rev., I. i. (1639), B 4 b. How now Antonio,… Strucke dead with Ladies eyes?—I could star-gaze For ever thus. Ibid. (1640), Arcadia, I. i. B 4. Her eyes Are fixt upon’t, and my poore soule could heere Star-gaze for ever.
1692. R. L’Estrange, Fables, clxxxix. 159. The Mischief is, that we are … star-gazing after Futurities; when in truth, our Bus’ness lies just under our Noses.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Wks. (1711), IV. 210. Madam, while I was Star-gazing t’other Night at your Window.
1778. Hist. Eliza Warwick, II. 101. He could not remove his eyes from my face. Lady Norfolk, observing it, asked him Whether he intended to sup, or to stargaze all night?
1830. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. IV. 179. The sky prospect from her apartment being rather limited, she used … to come star-gazing to mine.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, II. iii. ‘Very odd birds, kestrels,’ said East, looking waggishly at his victim, who was still star-gazing.
† b. with indirect question depending on the vb.
1691. d’Emiliane’s Frauds Rom. Monks, 226. The Abbot himself went out after Supper, to Star-gaze what Weather they were like to have the next day.
c. quasi-refl. with complementary phrase.
1678. T. P[orter], Fr. Conjurer, III. 15. He has talkt and stargazed himself into … favour with my Master.
1871. Ruskin, Fors Clav., i. Their present eagerness for instruction in painting and astronomy proceeds from an impression in their minds that, somehow, they may paint or star-gaze themselves into clothes and victuals.
