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.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, I. 196. Stanas maʓon hnexian and þæt starce isen on leades ʓelicnysse.
c. 1200. Ormin, 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.
a. 900. Cynewulf, Elene, 565 (Gr.). Heo wæron stærce. stane heardran, noldon þæt ʓeryne rihte cyðan.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 5. Ne beo þu þereuore prud ne wilde ne sterc ne wemod ne ouer modi.
c. 1200. Ormin, 1596. & ʓiff þin heorrte iss harrd & starrc, & stedefasst o Criste.
c. 1205. Lay., 23678. Strong mon wes Frolle and sterc mon on mode.
c. 1400. Cato’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.
c. 1440. Ps. Penit. (1894), 43. Crist ihesu … was nothur starke ne stef, But ever was louly in word and chere.
1589. R. 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?
1836. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), IV. 91. Against Tallow-plots, however, the Whig government was stark.
† c. Of a judgment: Stern, inflexible. Obs.
c. 1200. Ormin, 8802. He ʓifeþþ himm … witt & mihht to drædenn Godd & hise starrke domess.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 144. Þe sterke dom of domesdei.
† d. Sc. Of a question, a science: Hard, difficult. Obs.
1456. Sir 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.
a. 1000. Colloq. Ælfric, in Wr.-Wülcker, 90. Nys hyt swa stearc winter [aspera hyems] þæt ic durre lutian æt ham.
a. 1225. St. Marher., 9. Ant al warð þat stude of strong and starc stench.
a. 1225. Juliana, 78. Þer arisen stormes starcke & stronge & breken þe schipes bord.
a. 1240. Lofsong, in Cott. Hom., 211. Þeo sterke stremes and þet flod þet fleaw of þine wunden moncun uor to helen.
c. 1250. Owl & Night., 524. Ac hwenne nyhtes cumeþ longe, & bryngeþ forstes starke & stronge.
c. 1320. Seuyn Sag. (W.), 2123. The clerkes to the stage stale, And bet a fir strong and sterk.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 174. Þe hungre was so grete, & þe cold so stark.
1460. Lybeaus Disc., 1766. A fere stark and store Was lyght and brende bryght.
1597. Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae, 1529. The streim is thair sae stark,… It suld be idle wark.
1606. A. 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.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 362. He [John Baptist] ða heardheortan Iudeiscre ðeode mid stearcre ðreale and stiðre myngunge to lifes weʓe ʓebiʓde.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1086. He wæs … ofer eall ʓemett stearc þam mannum þe wiðcwædon his willan.
c. 1205. Lay., 9197. Ah he wes swiðe sturne & stærc wið þeon folke.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), III. xii. 183. William was already beginning to show himself … beyond measure stark to all who withstood his will.
1876. Tennyson, Harold, II. ii. For he is only debonair to those That follow where he leads, but stark as death To those that cross him.
1891. Q. Rev., July, 190. This great Emperor [Theodosius] was stark to all the opponents of Christianity and showed scant respect for pagan temples.
† c. of living, treatment, circumstances, etc.: Attended with hardship, harsh, severe. Of a wound: Severe. Obs.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 148. He nolde awendan his ʓewunelican biʓleofan … ac ða stiðnyssa his stearcan biʓleofan … on his life ʓeheold.
c. 1290. St. Sebastian, 48, in S. Eng. Leg., 179. With quareles and with Arewene: heo maden him woundes starke.
1338. R. 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.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 428. Ða het he hine wædum bereafian, and mid stearcum stengum beatan.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 127. Weste was his wunienge and stark haire of oluente his wede.
a. 1225. Leg. 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.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2118. Furst sche tok out þe croune sterk; þat crist on is heued let.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxxiv. 77. God, that evir I chaip, Nor ane stark widdy gar me gaip, Bot I in hell for geir wald be.
1508. Kennedie, Flyting w. Dunbar, 413. A stark gallowis, ane wedy, and a pyn, The hede poynt of thyne elderis armes ar.
1549. Compl. 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.
c. 1205. Lay., 4171. Þat fæht wes swuðe strong & swuðe stær [c. 1275 starc] & swuðe longe. Ibid., 4036. Sterce weren þe reæmes mid stronge raflake.
c. 1250. Owl & Night., 5 (Jesus MS.). Þat playd wes stif & starc & strong. Ibid., 1176. Þe vle … yer answere stark & stronge.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 3241. Þan at þe furste þe Assaut by-gan sterk & strait to be.
1456. Sir 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.
1611. B. Jonson, Catiline, I. i. Cet. The North is not so starke, and cold.
1878. Dickinson, Cumbld. Gloss., Stark weather, continued dry and cold north and east winds.
1913. Daily Graphic, 24 March, 12/1. The season is early, the weather stark and unpromising.
† g. Stark at the rent (see quot.). dial. Obs.
1683. G. 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.
c. 1205. Lay., 189. He makede enne stronge castel mid starke ston walle.
c. 1290. St. Brendan, 124, in S. Eng. Leg., 223. Þis hound ladde þis holi man to an halle … Gret & starc.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xlv. (Christina), 10. He mad a toure of lyme & stane, a starkare mocht be fundine nan.
1460. Lybeaus Disc., 710. Thanne sawe they yn a park A castell stout and stark.
1529. Registr. Aberdon. (Maitland Club), I. 396. To big agan þe said brig … als stark and substantious as we resave þe samyn.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 685. Anwik castell that wes starge and strang.
a. 1572. Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 177. [He] cryed, ‘Fyre, fyre,’ (for the door was verray stark).
1609. Extracts Rec. Convent. Burghs Scot. (1870), II. 284. All cowperis sall mak their hering barrellis ticht, stark, and sufficient treyis.
1755. R. 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.
c. 1205. Lay., 21227. Arður þe ræie Ron [i.e., his spear] nom an honde he stræhte scaft stærcne stiðimoden king.
a. 1300. Havelok, 380. In his hand a spere stark.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xix. (Christopher), 339. Quhen þat christofore þis prayere had mad … his staf, þat was sture & stark, was cled with lewis, & with bark.
1895. Crockett, 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.
c. 1250. Long Life, 11, in O. E. Misc. Nis non so strong ne sterch [v.r. sterk] ne kene Þat mai ago deaþes wiþer-blench.
a. 1310. in 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.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, 545. Me caryinge in his clawes starke.
1552. Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 24. Lat nocht the sterk man glore in his strenth.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xix. (Arb.), 249. There be some fowles of sight so prowd and starke, As can behold the sunne, and neuer shrinke.
1641. Best, Farm. Bks. (Surtees), 19. Throwe … your lambes oute of the penne, for feare that your starke sheepe treade them under foote.
1721. Ramsay, Prospect of Plenty, 183. A nation, healthfu’ wise, and stark.
1787. Burns, 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.
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, I. xxi. A stark moss-trooping Scott was he.
1836. W. Irving, Astoria (1849), 158. The loss of two stark hunters and prime riflemen was a serious affair to the party.
1895. Crockett, Men of Moss-Hags, xxv. The dragoons were stark fellows and had seen service.
† d. Strong in authority, dominion, rule, arms; powerful, mighty. Obs.
a. 1300. Havelok, 341. In þat time … Was in þe lon[d] of Denemark, A riche King, and swyþe stark.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 6840. He was bysshope and patryarke Of Constatynë, noble starke. Ibid. (1338), Chron. (1725), 45. Now rises Eilred, & gadres oste stark.
1456. Sir 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.
1543. St. 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.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 138. Frome yrland he sayles to Scotland, wt a strang and starke armie.
1807. J. 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.
c. 1250. Owl & Night., 1473. Wunder me þinkþ stark & sor [MS. Cott. starc & stor] Hw enymon [etc.].
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 120. And ȝit ane othir mare stark resoun is for the decreis sais that [etc.].
1587–8. Reg. Privy Council Scot., IV. 242. Upoun bettir avisement and starkare ressonis.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. 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.
a. 1557. Diurn. Occur. (Bannatyne Club), 11. And in this mene tyme was stark watcheing in Edinh about the kingis grace.
a. 1578. Lindesay (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.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 103 b. Cantharis is a litle litle vermyn … but hauyng in it starke poyson.
a. 1578. Lindesay (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.
1622. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, III. i. [Second Boor] Stark beer boy, stout and strong beer.
1633. Orkney Witch Trial, in Dalyell, Darker Superst. Scot. (1834), 153. Becaus the oyle was not stark enuch, he gat some aquavite to make it starker.
1870. J. 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].
1898. Crockett, Standard Bearer, xiv. Doon at the clachans the stark Hollands flowed like water in a running spate.
† h. Of color: Strong, dark. Obs.
1547. Recorde, 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.).
c. 1300–20. Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1903), 243. Starke waren his armes Hi-spred opon þe rode.
c. 1325. Gloss. W. de Bibbesw., in Wright, Voc., 148. De genuler serroynt trop redz [gloss stiffe v.r., MS. Camb. starke].
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, Canticles (1884), 506. Obriguerunt omnes habitatores chanaan.… All þe woners of chanaan wex starke…. Þai sall wax stark for drede & wa.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxxviii. 395. [Soldier.] I myght not stande, so was I starke [with fright].
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., iii. 268. My bonys ar so stark, No wonder if thay wark, ffor I am full old.
c. 1520. Skelton, Magnyf., 481. A knokylbonyarde wyll counterfet a clarke; He wolde trotte gentylly, but he is to starke.
1542. Boorde, Dyetary, viii. (1870), 247. I do aduertyse you not to … syt by the fyre … for fyre … doth make sterke the synewes & ioyntes of man.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 44. And downe did lay His heauie head,… Whose sences all were straight benumbd and starke.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 402. [The Mallander] will make a horse go stark, and stumble much.
1647. H. More, Cupid’s Conflict, lxxvii. The clearest truths may well seem dark When sloathfull men have eyes so dimme and stark.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. 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.
a. 1800. Pegge, Suppl. Grose, Stark, stiff, from too much exercise, or from the rheumatism, &c.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, III. xviii. I sought to close mine eyes, But like the balls, their lids were still and stark.
1838. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ser. I. Nurse’s Story. But, ere he can vent one inquisitive sniff, That little pug-dog stands stark and stiff.
1886. S. W. Linc. Gloss., s.v., The rheumatis’ has left my leg a bit stark.
b. Rigid, stiff (in death).
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., IV. i. 103. Each part depriu’d of supple gouernment, Shall stiffe and starke, and cold appeare like death. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., IV. ii. 209. [Enter Aruiragus, with Imogen dead.] Bel. How found you him? Arui. Starke, as you see.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., 136. The bodies of the Persians slaine, waxe drie and starke as stakes.
1839. Longf., Wreck Hesperus, xiii. A frozen corpse was he. Lashed to the helm all stiff and stark.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., vi. They left nought behind them save stark corpses.
c. Of material things: Rigid, stiff; not supple or flexible.
a. 1400. Stockh. 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.
c. 1450. St. 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., i. 4. You shall sensibly feele your breath to waxe starke, and euen stifeling with the colde, as you draw it in and out.
1713. Derham, 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.
1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., Stark or Starky, stiff, dry.
1883. Bridges, Prometheus, 1271. O heavenly fire,… O spirit of rage and might, Who canst unchain the links of winter stark.
1889. N. 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.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, iv. Montaigne, Wks. (Bohn), I. 340. The Spartan and Stoic schemes are too stark and stiff for our occasion.
1851. Gladstone, Glean., VI. xlii. 29. We seem to require an elasticity of system … which is in entire contrast with our rather stark and rigid methods.
1876. F. 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.
1641. Best, 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.
1788. W. H. Marshall, Yorksh., II. 356. Stark; tight;… as a stark rope.
f. Of land: Hard with drought. dial.
c. 1740. A. Allen, MS. Gl. (E. D. D.). When ye ground is parch’t and chop’t wth droughth, they say ye ground is stark.
1854. Miss 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 outline or formation; hence, bare, barren, desolate.
1833. Ht. 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.
1847. Emerson, Poems (1857), 199. Not of adamant and gold Built he heaven stark and cold.
1872. C. King, Mountain. Sierra Nev., xii. 258. Among rigid crater rims and stark fields of volcanic sand.
1898. Conan Doyle, Trag. Korosko, v. How cool and beautiful that green looked in the stark, abominable wilderness!
5. Sheer, absolute, unqualified.
c. 1400. Rom. 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.
1530. Proper Dyaloge, 509, in Roy, Rede me, etc. (Arb.), 149. By seynt mary syr that is a starcke lye.
a. 1553. Udall, Royster D., I. iii. But it will be starke nyght before I shall haue done.
1594. Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits, xv. (1596), 309. The whole … is in my conceit a starcke leasing, and verie mockerie.
1611. B. Jonson, Catiline, I. i. 693. Consider first the starke securitie The common wealth is in now.
a. 1661. Holyday, Juvenal (1673), 182. To escape starke beggery.
1701. Collier, M. Anton. (1726), 292. Let all this be done out of stark love and kindness.
1776. Johnson, in Boswell, Life an. 1728. Boswell: That, Sir, was great fortitude of mind. Johnson: No, Sir; stark insensibility.
1820. Shelley, Vis. Sea, 3. From the stark night of vapours the dim rain is driven.
1839. W. Irving, Chron. Wolfert’s Roost (1855), 185. It was stark midnight before they landed at Communipaw.
1852. H. Rogers, Eclipse of Faith, 373. [They were convinced] that the only orthodox belief in such a world was stark Atheism.
1898. F. T. Bullen, Cruise ‘Cachalot,’ 333. When a stark calm left the surface of the bay as smooth as a river.
b. Qualifying an unfavorable appellation of a person: Arrant, thorough, unmitigated.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, v. (John), 401. He lefit þe bischope, & vent þan to sterk thefis.
1529. More, Dyaloge, II. Wks. 181/2. He … neuer can be cast out being a stark heretique.
1530. Rastell, Bk. Purgat., III. xv. 5. He shall be proved a very stark fole that wyll beleve that there is no purgatorye.
1545. 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.
1641. Brome, Joviall Crew, II. I mean stark, errant, downright Beggars, I, Without equivocation; Statute Beggars.
a. 1711. Ken, Serm., Wks. (1838), 123. Beauty is often incident to stark fools.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, XI. xii. ’Tis but a crowd of maniacs stark.
1877. Talmage, Serm., 260. Before we make stark fools of ourselves, let us stop pressing this everlasting ‘Why.’
6. = STARK NAKED.
1762. H. Walpole, Let. C’tess Ailesbury, 5 March. What dreadful discoveries will be made both on fat and lean! I recommend to you the idea of Mrs. Cavendish, when half-stark.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, III. xiii. They bore me to a cavern … And one did strip me stark.
1885–94. R. Bridges, Eros & Psyche, March xxx. Behind came Tritons … Green-bearded, tail’d like fish, all sleek and stark.
1898. J. 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. 1876. M. Arnold, Lit. & Dogma, 55. If all the law they were thinking of stood, stark and written, before their eyes already?
1891. T. Hardy, 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.
c. 1205. Lay., 16683. Samuel nom Agag … & lædde hine a þan cheping & lette hine swiðe sterke to ane stake binde.
1794. Har’st Rig, lxv. Now kempen fo’k, they dinae lo’e They work sae stark.
1900. C. 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.
1489. Skelton, Death Earl Northumbld., 50. I say, ye comoners, why wer ye so stark mad?
1561. Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 125. Our Religion is true, and yours starke false.
1573. G. Harvey, Letter Bk. (Camden), 133. If the marke I not hitt Saye he is starke wood.
1579–80. North, Plutarch, Lycurgus (1595), 63. They forced them sometimes to drinke wine … till they had made them starke drunke.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., II. i. 59. But sure he is starke mad.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., Wks. (Grosart), II. 235. Iwis hee mought haue spied a difference … betwene raging, and starke-madd.
1593. Nashe, Four Lett. Conf., Wks. (Grosart), II. 261. His conscience accuseth him, hee is stroke starke dumbe.
c. 1595. Capt. Wyatt, R. Dudley’s Voy. W. Ind. (Hakl. Soc.), 52. Havinge somtimes most soden gustes and againe in a moment beinge starke becalmed.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., I. i. 69. That wench is starke mad, or wonderfull froward Ibid., III. ii. 55. His horse … starke spoyl’d with the Staggers.
1620. Dekker, Dream, 26. Ten thousand Salamanders (whose chill thawing Puts Bonfires out), their starke-stiffe lunges were gnawing.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, V. 182. In the evening it grew starke calme.
1661. Pepys, Diary, 23 April. We drank the King’s health … till one of the gentlemen fell down stark drunk, and there lay.
1683. P. Lorrain, trans. Muret’s Rites of Funeral, 191. In his days it seem’d to be yet stark new.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 19. Going a fishing in a stark calm Morning.
a. 1721. Prior, Poems, Cromwell & Porter, 281. You may study among the Law givers without being stark wild about Ordinances and Proclamations.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., vi. But every body was, for the moment, stark-mad on the subject of Porteous.
1823. W. Scoresby, Jrnl., 390. It fell stark calm.
1870. Morris, 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 staring mad.
In later use the collocation stark staring is often felt as a mere strengthening of stark adv. or adj.
1532. Dice 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.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Luke vi. 6–11. Thei are turned into stercke staryng madnesse.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr., P. I thinke it as good, by ought I can deuise, To be starke staryng blinde, as thus to haue eies.
1575. Gascoigne, Posies, Fruites Warre, cvii. The tide skarce good, the winde starke staring naught.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, XII. xxxii. Stark raving she and roaring prov’d.
1693. Dryden, Persius, V. 212. Art thou of Bethlem’s Noble College free? Stark, staring mad.
1734. Fielding, Intriguing Chambermaid, II. vi. I find I am distracted! I am stark raving mad!
1788. Wesley, Wks. (1872), VI. 322. It is such stark-staring nonsense, as every man of sense ought to be utterly ashamed of.
1802. Aberdeen Jrnl., 30 June, 2/4. Bonaparte has now found out, that his pigmy King, of his own making, has listened to the councils of Priests, and is of course stark staring mad!
1839. Hood, Lost Heir, 23. Oh Lord! oh dear, my heart will break, I shall go stick stark staring wild!
1849. Cupples, Green Hand, viii. (1856), 71. One morning when Westwood and I went on deck, it was a stark staring calm.
1870. Miss Bridgman, R. Lynne, I. xii. 189. He must be stark staring mad.
1894. Mrs. H. Ward, Marcella, II. 263. The whole thing is stark staring lunacy.
† c. qualifying tire, weary vbs. (Cf. STARK a. 4.)
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 75. Antisthenes made suche a long oracion, that he starke weried all his hearers.
a. 1661. Holyday, Juvenal (1673), 146. Whiles he strives to perfect the boy, he starke tires himself.
d. qualifying an adv. or advb. phrase.
1668. Shadwell, Sullen Lovers, II. i. O’ my conscience thou art stark out of thy wits.
1863. Kinglake, 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. 127. I’ve half a mind to turn him stark out o’ the house.
