from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Stark \Stark\ (st[aum]rk), a. [Compar. {Starker} (-[~e]r);
superl. {Starkest}.] [OE. stark stiff, strong, AS. stearc;
akin to OS. starc strong, D. sterk, OHG. starc, starah, G. &
Sw. stark, Dan. staerk, Icel. sterkr, Goth. gasta['u]rknan to
become dried up, Lith. str["e]gti to stiffen, to freeze. Cf.
{Starch}, a. & n.]
1. Stiff; rigid. --Chaucer.
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Whose senses all were straight benumbed and stark.
--Spenser.
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His heart gan wax as stark as marble stone.
--Spenser.
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Many a nobleman lies stark and stiff
Under the hoofs of vaunting enemies. --Shak.
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The north is not so stark and cold. --B. Jonson.
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2. Complete; absolute; full; perfect; entire. [Obs.]
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Consider the stark security
The common wealth is in now. --B. Jonson.
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3. Strong; vigorous; powerful.
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A stark, moss-trooping Scot. --Sir W.
Scott.
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Stark beer, boy, stout and strong beer. --Beau. &
Fl.
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4. Severe; violent; fierce. [Obs.] "In starke stours" [i. e.,
in fierce combats]. --Chaucer.
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5. Mere; sheer; gross; entire; downright.
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He pronounces the citation stark nonsense.
--Collier.
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Rhetoric is very good or stark naught; there's no
medium in rhetoric. --Selden.
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