a. Also β. 4–5 start-, storte-. [f. STARK adv. 2 (advb. use of STARK a. 4); an alteration of STAREBLIND (after STARK DEAD). The β forms are due to association with START-NAKED.] Quite blind. lit. and fig.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 97. He put out his eiȝen in Reblata, and lad hym (so) in Babilon streiȝt blynde. [MSS. α and γ start blynde. Caxton & β stark blynde.]
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., xxix. i. 70. Þei woxe start-blynde anon-riht.
c. 1400. Sege Jerus., 576. For þe doust & þe dyn … alle … storte-blynde wexen.
1534. More, Comf. agst. Trib., I. Wks. 1145/1. Christe … threw hym to the ground, and strake hym starke blynde.
1666. J. Davies, Hist. Caribby Isles, 251. In the Streets they have met with many one-eyed, and many stark blind people.
1704. Evelyn, Diary, May. He was 86 years of age, stark blind, deafe, and memory lost.
1781. Cowper, Charity, 404. She sees a world stark blind to what employs Her eager thought.
Hence Stark-blind v., to make stark blind.
a. 1618. Sylvester, Tri. Faith, IV. ix. By Faith, Saint Paul stark-blinded Elymas.
