† starkn.2
Scottish. Obsolete.
An implement used in dressing leather.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for working with skins or leather > [noun] > for dressing leather
flesh-board1411
stark1541
stuffing wheel1882
glassing-jacka1884
stuffing drum1897
fleshing-board-
1541 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1844) I. 176 Item, ane stark to vork the ledder vpoun, with thair feytt.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
† starkn.3
Obsolete. rare. Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.
A redstart (genus Phoenicurus); = redstart n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > subfamily Turdinae > [noun] > genus Phoenicurus > species phoenicurus (redstart)
redtail1544
redstart1553
stark1611
firetail1752
star finch1752
brandtail1802
redstart warbler1815
firebrand1848
fiery brandtail1853
fireflirt1883
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Rossignol de muraille, a Starke, a Red-tayle.
1659 G. Torriano Florio's Vocabolario Italiano & Inglese A starke (or red taile) codirosse.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
Starkn.4
/stɑːk/, U.S. /stɑrk/ Physics.
attributive. Used with reference to an effect in which spectral lines of atoms or molecules are split, broadened, or shifted due to the presence of a strong electric field. Esp. in Stark effect, Stark shift, Stark splitting. Cf. Zeeman n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > decomposition of light, spectrum > [noun] > effect involving electrostatic field
Stark1914
1914 G. E. Hale in Publ. Astron. Soc. Pacific 26 147 If the Stark effect exists in the Sun its magnitude appears to be so small that special methods..will be required to detect it.
1936 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) A. 235 345 We do not, at present, possess enough knowledge of either the magnitude or the asymmetry of crystalline fields to be able to calculate the Stark splitting directly.
1951 D. Bohm Quantum Theory xix. 471 The higher levels will exhibit more complex patterns for the Stark shift, because more degenerate levels will, in general, be involved.
1979 Physical Rev. A. 20 504/2 Stark-broadening parameters for the brighter isolated tin lines are given in Table VI.
2000 New Scientist 29 Apr. 64/2 (advt.) Integrated fast tuneable lasers using the quantum confined Stark effect as the tuning mechanism.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
starkadj.n.1adv.
/stɑːk/, U.S. /stɑrk/α. Old English (rare)–early Middle English starc, Old English–early Middle English stearc, early Middle English starrc ( Ormulum), early Middle English starrke ( Ormulum, plural), early Middle English stær (perhaps transmission error), early Middle English stærc, early Middle English steorc, early Middle English sterc, Middle English stake (transmission error), Middle English–1500s sterk, Middle English–1500s sterke, Middle English–1600s starck, Middle English–1600s starcke, Middle English–1600s starke, Middle English– stark, 1500s stercke, 1800s staak (English regional (Leicestershire)), 1800s staark (English regional (Westmorland)), 1800s ztark (English regional (Dorset)); Scottish pre-1700 starck, pre-1700 starge, pre-1700 starke, pre-1700 starte (perhaps transmission error), pre-1700 1700s– stark, pre-1700 1800s– sterk.
β. Old English streac, early Middle English strake, Middle English strak.
γ. early Middle English sterch, Middle English starch.
A. adj. (and n.1)† 1. Hard, unyielding.
a. Of a material substance: hard to the touch, resistant to pressure, unyielding. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > hardness > types of hardness > [adjective] > stiff or rigid
stithc897
stiff1000
starkOE
inflexiblec1400
rigent?1440
unbowable1537
staffish1545
steya1586
unpliablea1618
rigid1618
unsupple1621
unpliant1624
immercurial1637
steeve1637
starky1657
impliablea1734
tharf1747
stiff as a poker1798
unbending1802
unbowsome1818
crisp1851
unbendable1884
poker-stiff1894
unfluxile1925
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 196 Stanas magon hnexian, and þæt starce isen on leades gelicnysse, ærðan þe se geleafa mæge..beon æfre adwæsced.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 999 & oþerr stund itt [sc. bread] bakenn wass Full harrd. & starrc inn ofne.
a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (1998) I. l. 4525 Yren is so hard and stark And men to worche it haþ greet cark.
1588 J. Penry Exhort. Wales (new ed.) 11 Though in their stomacks it should turne into starke iron.
1887 W. Morris tr. Homer Odyssey II. 361 I will hold me hard as the iron or some stark stone to the end.
b. figurative. Of a person, or a person's heart, character, etc.: hard, obdurate; (also in favourable sense) firm, resolute. Obsolete.In Old English also in the compound stearc-heort stout-hearted.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > constancy or steadfastness > [adjective]
fasteOE
stathelfasteOE
anredOE
hardOE
starkOE
trueOE
steadfast993
fastredeOE
stithc1000
findyOE
stablea1275
stathelyc1275
stiffc1275
stablec1290
steel to the (very) backa1300
unbowinga1300
stably13..
firm1377
unmovablea1382
constantc1386
abidingc1400
toughc1400
sure1421
unmoblea1425
unfaintedc1425
unfaint1436
permanent?a1475
stalwartc1480
unbroken1513
immovable1534
inconcuss1542
unshaken1548
stout1569
unwavering1570
undiscourageable1571
fixed1574
discourageable1576
unappalled1578
resolute1579
unremoved1583
resolved1585
unflexiblea1586
unshakeda1586
square1589
unstooping1597
iron1598
rocky1601
steady1602
undeclinable1610
unboweda1616
unfainting1615
unswayed1615
staunch1624
undiscourageda1628
staid1631
unshook1633
blue?1636
true blue?1636
tenacious1640
uncomplying1643
yieldless1651
riveting1658
unshakened1659
inconquerable1660
unyielding1677
unbendinga1688
tight1690
unswerving1694
unfaltering1727
unsubmitting1730
undeviating1732
undrooping1736
impervertible1741
undamped1742
undyingc1765
sturdy1775
stiff as a poker1798
unfickle1802
indivertible1821
thick and thin1822
undisheartened1827
inconvertible1829
straightforward1829
indomitable1830
stickfast1831
unsuccumbing1833
unturnable1847
unswerved1849
undivertible1856
unforsaking1862
swerveless1863
steeve1870
rock-ribbed1884
stiff in the back1897
the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [adjective]
starkOE
moodyOE
stithc1000
stidyc1175
stallc1275
harda1382
stubbornc1386
obstinate?1387
throa1400
hard nolleda1425
obstinant?a1425
pertinacec1425
stablec1440
dour1488
unresigned1497
difficultc1503
hard-necked1530
pertinatec1534
obstacle1535
stout-stomached1549
hard-faced1567
stunt1581
hard-headed1583
pertinacious1583
stuntly1583
peremptory1589
stomachous1590
mulish1600
stomachful1600
obstined1606
restive1633
obstinacious1649
opinionated1649
tenacious1656
iron-sided1659
sturdy1664
cat-witted1672
obstinated1672
unyielding1677
ruggish1688
bullet-headed1699
tough1780
pelsy1785
stupid1788
hard-set1818
thick and thin1822
stuntya1825
rigwiddie1826
indomitable1830
recalcitrant1830
set1848
mule-headed1870
muley1871
capitose1881
hard-nosed1917
tight1928
OE Cynewulf Elene 565 Heo wæron stearce, stane heardran, noldon þæt geryne rihte cyðan.
OE Beowulf (2008) 2552 Let ða of breostum, ða he gebolgen wæs, Wedergeata leod word ut faran, stearcheort styrmde.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 1596 & ȝiff þin heorrte iss harrd. & starrc. & stedefasst o criste.
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 5 Ne beo þu þereuore prud ne wilde ne sterc ne wemod ne ouer modi.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 11816 Strong mon wes Frolle and sterc [c1300 Otho starc] mon on mode.
a1400 Cato's Distichs (Fairf.) l. 33 in R. Morris Cursor Mundi (1878) III. App. iv. 1669 If richesse come þe rife..be noȝt starke to freindis. spende þou fulle hertli..þi gift wiþ þe weindis.
?1591 R. Bruce Serm. Sacrament v. sig. S5 Swa then, wald thou knaw, quhither thy faith be strong or not, quhither thy perswasion of Gods mercie, be starke or not?
1836 T. P. Thompson Exercises (1842) IV. 91 Against Tallow-plots, however, the Whig government was stark.
c. Of a question, science, etc.: hard to understand or answer; difficult, impenetrable. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > depth, obscurity > [adjective]
higheOE
dighela1000
deepc1000
darkOE
starkOE
dusk?c1225
subtle1340
dimc1350
subtilea1393
covert1393
mystica1398
murka1400
cloudyc1400
hard?c1400
mistyc1400
unclearc1400
diffuse1430
abstractc1450
diffused?1456
exquisitec1460
obnubilous?a1475
obscure?a1475
covered1484
intricate?a1500
nice?a1500
perplexeda1500
difficilea1513
difficult1530
privy1532
smoky1533
secret1535
abstruse?1549
difficul1552
entangled1561
confounded1572
darksome1574
obnubilate1575
enigmatical1576
confuse1577
mysteriousa1586
Delphic1598
obfuscatea1600
enfumed1601
Delphicala1603
obstruse1604
abstracted1605
confused1611
questionable1611
inevident1614
recondite1619
cryptic1620
obfuscated1620
transcendent1624
Delphian1625
oraculous1625
enigmatic1628
recluse1629
abdite1635
undilucidated1635
clouded1641
benighted1647
oblite1650
researched1653
obnubilated1658
obscurative1664
tenebrose1677
hyperbyssal1691
condite1695
diffusive1709
profound1710
tenebricose1730
oracular1749
opaque1761
unenlightening1768
darkling1795
offuscating1798
unrecognizable1817
tough1820
abstrusive1848
obscurant1878
out-of-focus1891
unplumbable1895
inenubilable1903
non-transparent1939
OE tr. Chrodegang of Metz Regula Canonicorum (Corpus Cambr. 191) lxxxi. 331 Niwon folce and flæsclicum opene þing and gemænlice ma sceal bodian, næs na uplice þing ne stearce [L. ardua].
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 131 Here speris the doctour a stark questioun.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Gouernaunce of Princis (1993) xviii. 85 Na traist nocht jn jgnorant mennis wordis yat sais..yat the science of thame [sc. the stars] is sa stark, yat nane may knaw jt.
1910 Times Weekly 30 Dec. 1030/2 'S'pose there is a Santa Claus?.. Why's he got to come down chimbleys? He could do it by 'lectric, couldn't he? And how can he climb down all the chimbleys in London the same night?' These were stark questions.
d. Of a judgement: stern, unchangeable, set in stone. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > strictness > [adjective] > strict or severe (of rules, judgement, or discipline)
strongeOE
starkc1175
sharpa1340
strait1390
unrelaxed1508
exacta1538
severe1562
strict1578
weightya1616
stringent1846
ramrod1850
medieval1917
tough1961
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 8802 He ȝifeþþ himm..witt & mihht to drædenn godd. & hise starrke domess.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 115 Þe sterke dom of domesdei.
2. Violent, harsh, severe.† c. Of life, way of living, treatment, circumstances, etc.: harsh, grim; attended with or inflicting hardship. Of a wound: grievous. Obsolete. † e. Of fighting, contention, or blows: vehement, fierce. Obsolete (Scottish or archaic in later use). † f. English regional (Yorkshire). stark at the rent: punitively expensive to rent. Obsolete.
a. Of a natural agency or phenomenon (as the cold, wind, fire, waves, etc.): fierce or violent in operation; severe, punishing. Now chiefly Scottish and rare. Sc. National Dict. (at cited word) records this sense as still in use in Orkney in 1971.Quot. 1850 is a translation of quot. eOE.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [adjective] > specifically of natural agencies
starkeOE
steer13..
savagea1393
wightc1400
violentc1425
rageousc1450
bolda1522
masterfula1522
shouldering1747
eOE Metres of Boethius (partly from transcript of damaged MS) (2009) xii. 14 Bið eac swa same monna æghwilc micle þy fægenra liðes weðres, gif hine lytle ær stormas gestondað and se stearca wind norðan and eastan.
lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) (2009) I. xxxiv. 327 Þæt treow bið uton gescyrped and beweroð [read bewerod] mid þære rinde wið ðone winter and wið ða stearcan stormas and eac wið þære sunnan hæto on sumera.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Bodl.) (1934) 20 Al warð þet stude ful of strong & of stearc [c1225 Royal starc] stench.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Royal) 588 Þer arisen stormes starcke & stronge & breken þe schipes bord.
c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 524 Ac wane niȝtes cumeþ longe, & bringeþ forstes starke an stronge.
c1330 Seven Sages (Auch.) (1933) 1989 Þe clerkes to þe stage stale, And bet a fir strong and sterk.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 174 Þe hungre was so grete, & þe cold so stark.
c1430 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1877) §841 Auouteryis schuln been in helle in a stark [c1405 Ellesmere stank, c1415 Lansd. stinkinge; Fr. estanc, L. stagnum] brennynge fere of bronston.
c1450 (a1400) Libeaus Desconus (Calig. A.ii) (1969) l. 1766 (MED) A fere stark and store Was lyȝt and brende bryȝt.
a1586 J. Maitland in W. A. Craigie Maitland Folio MS (1919) I. 285 Fluidis with gritter force ay flowis and starkar stevin, quhone stoppit ar þe stremis.
1606 A. Craig Amorose Songes sig. Iiii And though the streams be stark, I through the waltering waues shall swim.
1636 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae (new ed.) 1529 The streame is there so starke,..It should be idle work.
1686 J. Goad Astro-meteorologica ii. xiv. 348 June 24. & 29. Stark Rain and Thunder.
1790 A. Wilson Poems 184 My friends, for G—d sake! quat yer wark, Nor think to war a wind sae stark.
1850 M. F. Tupper tr. King Alfred's Poems xii. 53 The stark wind East by North Lately rush'd in anger forth.
1929 H. Marwick Orkney Norn 177/2 Stark, intense, furious, blinding, stifling (of snow); ‘a stark moor’, an intense, blinding snow; ‘stark drift’.
b. Of the weather, climate, a season, etc.: harsh, inclement. Formerly also: †(of a place) characterized by such weather (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > bad weather > [adjective]
starkOE
unkindc1330
foulc1390
distemperate1398
distempered1490
untemperate1525
intemperate1526
naughty1541
intempered1556
unkindly1579
sour1582
unclement1598
filthy1600
nasty1634
dirty1660
inclement1667
inclemental1709
wretched1711
foul-weather1750
ungenial1816
wersh1830
shabby1853
OE Ælfric's Colloquy (1991) 20 Non est tam aspera hiemps ut audeam latere domi : nys hit swa stearc winter þæt ic durre lutian æt ham.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 54 Quhen he come the frost, and snaw was sa fell—and sa stark weder.
1611 B. Jonson Catiline i. sig. C The North is not so starke, and cold. View more context for this quotation
1866 G. H. Hollister Thomas a Becket 122 'Twas January, very stark and cold; A fall of snow had hid the travelled ways.
1878 W. Dickinson Gloss. Words & Phrases Cumberland (ed. 2) Stark weather, continued dry and cold north and east winds.
1913 Daily Graphic 24 Mar. 12/1 The season is early, the weather stark and unpromising.
1959 K. McNaught Prophet in Politics xvi. 233 The slight and dignified host, his hair and beard already streaked with white and his health far from robust, made no concession to the stark climate of the prairie capital.
1998 P. Honan Shakespeare: A Life (1999) xiv. 274 There is no sign that he regretted stark winters, but freezing weather brings no cheer..in his new play [sc. Hamlet].
2011 Yorks. Evening Post (Nexis) 11 Jan. It's a place of incredible beauty, quite stark weather at times, one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife on earth.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > [adjective] > full of hardship
hardOE
soreOE
starkOE
difficult1562
flinty1613
rugged1663
rough1709
rude1735
tough1890
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) x. 89 He nolde awendan his gewunelican bigleofan..ac ða stiðnyssa his stearcan bigleofan betwux læwedum folce on his life geheold.
OE tr. Chrodegang of Metz Regula Canonicorum (Corpus Cambr. 191) lxxxi. 331 Witodlice sume geriht stearc [L. dura] þreaung, sume milde tihting.
a1225 ( Ælfric's Homily De Duodecim Abusivis (Lamb. 487) in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 105 (MED) Þe fifte mihte..is gastliche blisse þet þe mon on god blissie bitwuxe þa sorinessen þissere sterke [OE Corpus Cambr. 178 reðan] worlde.
c1300 St. Sebastian (Laud) 48 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 179 With quareles and with Arewene heo maden him woundes starke.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 98 Bot Henry þink it stark, þat he is charged so To gyue þre þousand mark & bonden be þerto.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 21 Tille Elfride oure kyng com tiþinges starke.
a1525 J. Irland Of Penance & Confession in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1923) I. 4 The stark pvnicioun of God is able to strike upon thé.
d. Of a person, or a person's heart, character, etc.: harsh, severe, pitiless. In later use chiefly with reference to the characterization of William the Conqueror in the Anglo-Saxon Chron. (cf. quot. lOE). Now rare.Recorded earliest in the Old English compound stearc-ferhð harsh-hearted, pitiless (in quot. used as noun).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > strictness > [adjective] > severe or stern
wrothc893
retheeOE
stithc897
starkOE
sternOE
hardOE
dangerous?c1225
sharpa1340
asperc1374
austerec1384
shrewda1387
snella1400
sternful?a1400
unsterna1400
dour?a1425
piquant1521
tetrical1528
tetric1533
sorea1535
rugged?1548
severe1548
hard-handed1611
Catonian1676
tetricous1727
heavy1849
acerbic1853
stiff1856
Catonic1883
tough1905
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > harshness or severity > [adjective]
heavyc825
retheeOE
stithc897
hardeOE
starkOE
sternOE
dangerous?c1225
sharp?c1225
unsoftc1275
sturdy1297
asperc1374
austerec1384
shrewda1387
snella1400
sternful?a1400
dour?a1425
thrallc1430
piquant1521
tetrical1528
tetric1533
sorea1535
rugged?1548
severe1548
iron1574
harsh1579
strict1600
angry1650
Catonian1676
Draconic1708
tetricous1727
alkaline1789
acerbic1853
stiff1856
acerbate1869
acerbitous1870
Draconian1876
Catonic1883
OE Cynewulf Juliana 636 Ða wæs gelæded londmearce neah ond to þære stowe þær hi stearcferþe þurh cumbolhete cwellan þohtun.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1086 He [sc. William the Conqueror] wæs milde þam godum mannum..& ofer eall gemett stearc þam mannum þe wiðcwædon his willan.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 4587 Ah he wes swiðe sturne. & stærc [c1300 Otho starc] wið þeon folke.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 23275 (MED) Þaa men þat sa starck war her..sal haue euer þat water cald [in hell].
1819 J. Lingard Hist. Eng. I. viii. 450 Moreover he [sc. William] was a very stark man, and very savage: so that no man durst do any thing against his will.
1876 Ld. Tennyson Harold ii. ii. 50 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 was stark to all the opponents of Christianity.
1963 C. Brooke Saxon & Norman Kings x. 173 He was a hard man, a stark man... William still inspires us only with fear.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [adjective] > carried on violently
stithc1000
strongOE
starkOE
storlicc1275
stourc1275
sharpc1381
stalwartc1420
sturdya1450
sorea1500
vehement1531
shrewd1576
perperacute1647
furied1878
OE [implied in: Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Tiber. B.iv) anno 1016 Þa gewende se here sona to Lundenne, & þa buruh utan ymbesæton, & hyre stearclice on feaht ægðær ge be wætere ge be lande. (at starkly adv. 1)].
c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 1176 Þe hule..ȝef ondsware starke & stronge.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 8218 Aurilie þe king & moni þusend..bigunnen þer oðer fæht þe wes feond-liche stærc.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 3241 Þan at þe furste þe Assaut by-gan sterk & strait to be.
c1450 in K. Sisam 14th Cent. Verse & Prose (1933) l. 14 (MED) Heuy hamerys þei han..Stark strokes þei stryken.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 113 He wist wele, and he had scapit, he wald nocht haue cessit to mak him starkare were than before.
1823 London Mag. Apr. 418 I have had a stark fight for ye, and ye maun wed me soon.
1856 W. E. Aytoun Bothwell iv. ix. 114 I'd meet him as a knight, And do stark battle to the death.
1897 M. Armour Fall of Nibelungs ii. xxxiii. 218 Comrade, seest thou my brother beset by the stark blows of the Huns?
1915 J. Lang Bk. of Myths 249 He dealt with his sword stark blows on those children of the deep who would fain have devoured him.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > hire or rent > rent (land or real property) > [adjective] > having high rent
stark at the rent1683
1683 G. Meriton York-shire Dialogue in Pure Nat. Dial. 51 And yet you say your Farme is starke att'th Rent [1685 starke 'oth Rent; but Gloss. has Stark at the Rent, is very dear at the Rent.]
3. Strong, stout, powerful.† c. Strong in authority, dominion, rule, or arms; powerful, mighty. Obsolete. † f. Scottish. Of a military action, esp. a watch: heavily armed, strong. Obsolete (archaic in later use).† g. Of a colour: strong, dark. Obsolete. rare.
a. Of an object or thing.† (a) Of a staff or weapon: strong, massive, stout. Obsolete (Scottish in later use).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > [adjective] > quality of, generally
starkOE
stiffc1250
sterna1400
vengeablec1400
unwieldya1547
vengefula1586
mistempered1597
maiden1598
lathen1843
humane1970
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxix. 424 Ða ða Decius þæt geaxode þa het he hine wædum bereafian & mid stearcum stengum beatan.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 10592 Arður þe ræie Ron [i.e. his spear] nom an honde. he stræhte scaft stærcne stiðimoden king.
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 380 In his hand a spere stark.
c1480 (a1400) St. Christopher 339 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 349 Quhen þat christofore þis prayere had mad..his staf, þat was sture & stark, was cled with lewis, & with bark.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) iii. 22 Than the father takkis ane batton or sum vthir sterk vappin to puneise his sonne.
1773 R. Fergusson Poems 120 Frae a stark Lochaber aix He gat a clamihewit.
1895 S. R. 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.
(b) Chiefly Scottish. Of a structure or material: strong, substantial, sturdily made. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > strength > [adjective]
hardeOE
strongOE
stithOE
starkc1275
sturdyc1374
brazena1382
mighty?1448
boisterous?1571
oaky1631
stout1765
pang1813
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 96 He makede enne stronge castel mid starke ston walle.
c1300 St. Brendan (Harl.) 124 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 223 Þis hound ladde þis holi man to an halle, fair ynouȝ, Gret & starc & suyþe noble.
c1450 (a1400) Libeaus Desconus (Calig. A.ii) (1969) l. 710 (MED) Þanne sawe þey yn a park A castell stout and stark.
c1480 (a1400) St. Christina 10 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 398 He mad a toure of lyme & stane, a starkare mocht be fundine nan.
1508 W. Kennedy Flyting (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 214 A stark gallowis, a wedy and a pyn, The hede poynt of thyne elderis armes ar.
1529 in C. Innes Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis (1845) I. 396 To big agan þe said brig..als stark and substantious as we resave þe samyn.
a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in Wks. (1846) I. 177 [He] cryed, ‘Fyre, fyre,’ (for the door was verray stark).
1609 in Extracts Rec. Convent. Burghs Scotl. (1870) II. 284 All cowperis sall mak their hering barrellis ticht, stark, and sufficient treyis.
a1628 J. Carmichaell Coll. Prov. in Scots (1957) 57 A strong theif sould have a stark tow.
1666 Pleugh-song in J. Forbes Cantus (ed. 2) sig. I4v Bring with me my fair fresh ox, with all that belongs to the pleugh, soms of yron stark enough.
1755 R. Forbes Shop-bill in tr. Ovid Ajax his Speech (new ed.) 39 Fare may be had..The starkest hose that can be made.
1794 W. Anderson Piper of Peebles 6 The sarks were few, An very stark, but no' that saft.
1904 S. R. Crockett Raiderland 161 This is a guid stark bit whup.
1953 M. Traynor Eng. Dial. Donegal 281 That's far starker calico.
a1978 A. S. Borrowman Buik o Ruth & Ither Wark in Lallans (1979) 25 Ay, it's an auld brugh [sc. Stirling], steeve and sterk.
b. Of a person or animal: physically strong or powerful; lusty, robust, sturdy, vigorous. Also as n. Now rare (chiefly Scottish in later use).
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > [adjective] > of health: good > resistant to disease, etc.
strongeOE
stalworthc1175
starka1250
stiff1297
stalworthyc1300
vigorousc1330
stoura1350
lustyc1374
marrowya1382
sturdyc1386
crank1398
robust1490
vigorious1502
stalwart1508
hardy1548
robustious1548
of force1577
rustical1583
marrowed1612
rustic1620
robustic1652
solid1741
refractory1843
salted1864
resistant1876
saulteda1879
the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily strength > [adjective] > robust
strongeOE
hardOE
stalworthc1175
starka1250
stiff1297
steel to the (very) backa1300
stalworthyc1300
wightc1300
stable13..
valiant1303
stithc1325
toughc1330
wrast1338
stoura1350
sadc1384
wighty14..
derfc1440
substantialc1460
well-jointed1483
felon1487
robust1490
stalwart1508
stoutya1529
robustous?1531
rankc1540
hardy1548
robustious1548
stout1576
rustical1583
rustic1620
iron1638
robustic1652
swankinga1704
strapping1707
rugged1731
solid1741
vaudy1793
flaithulach1829
ironbark1833
swankie1838
tough as (old) boots or leather1843
skookum1847
hard (also tough, sharp) as nails1862
hard-assed1954
nails1974
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > types of vision > [adjective] > clear- or sharp-sighted > clear or sharp (of sight)
piercinga1400
clear1576
stark1589
lynceous1592
unshadowed1593
lyncean1622
cleared1642
unbeclouded1707
aquiline1791
bird-clear1938
a1250 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 15 Ne mai strong ne starch [c1275 Calig. sterch, c1275 Laud starc, a1300 Jesus Oxf. sterk] ne kene a-ȝlye deth-is wiþer-clench.
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 2027 (MED) He weren..Starke laddes, stalworþi men.
c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) 5518 Jch wil þee ȝiue of golde a mark, And a stede stronge and stark.
c1475 Mankind (1969) l. 368 (MED) He ys a goode starke laburrer.
1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Catech. Prol. f. 2 Lat nocht ye sterk man glore in his strenth.
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xix. 202 There be some fowles of sight so prowd and starke, As can behold the sunne, and neuer shrinke.
a1642 H. Best Farming & Memorandum Bks. (1984) 21 Throwe..your lambs out of the penne, for feare that your starke sheepe treade them under foote.
1663 ‘P. Stampoy’ Coll. Scotch Prov. 19 Fill fow, and had fow, makes a starke man.
1721 A. Ramsay Prospect of Plenty 183 A nation, healthfu' wise, and stark.
1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 165 He gied me thee..An' fifty mark; Tho' it was sma', 'twas weel-won gear, An' thou was stark.
1805 W. Scott Lay of Last Minstrel i. xxi. 22 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 S. R. Crockett Men of Moss-hags xxv The dragoons were stark fellows and had seen service.
1937 Scotsman 8 June 12/1 She was the embodiment of the stark and sturdy woman of the North.
1999 N. Talbot in P. Faulkner & P. Preston William Morris ii. vi. 103 The stark fighting men who call themselves Champions of the Dry Tree oppose the vicious Burgers of the Four Friths in a way as destructive as heroic.
2007 D. Purves Ane Auld Sang 43 Steive an sterk ma bodie hauds the yird.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > power > [adjective]
mightyeOE
craftyeOE
richeOE
strongeOE
wieldeOE
mainstrongOE
mightOE
keena1000
mightfullOE
mainfulc1225
reighc1225
starkc1275
boldc1300
fort13..
mightandc1350
strengthya1382
mightifula1400
bigc1400
powerfulc1450
puissant?c1450
mananta1500
mighteousa1500
potenta1500
potential?c1500
vailing1508
forcible1555
potentate1556
swingeing1567
powerable1580
strong-handed1598
strengthful1604
hogen mogen1648
powerlike1657
pollent1660
hogana1672
swayful1767
reverend1826
oomphy1955
kick-ass1977
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 9310 Þis iherde Vther, þe king wes swiðe steorc.
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 341 In þat time..Was in þe lon of denemark A riche king, and swyþe stark.
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 60 Ne is no quene so stark ne stour..þat ded ne shal by glyde.
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 6840 He was bysshope and patryarke Of Constatyne, noble starke.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Knychthede (1993) iii. 21 Ffor the office of knychthede suld have stark place jn gouernaunce.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 12 The maa, miraclis, the starkare was haly kirk. ffor ay the faith grewe starkare and starkare.
1543 in State Papers Henry VIII (1836) V. 588 All that be His Highnes servauntes and frendes must make theim starke, and to make the most frendes they can.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 138 Frome yrland he sayles to Scotland, wt a strang and starke armie.
1693 Sc. Presbyterian Eloquence (ed. 2) 87 As stark as they were, God is starker.
1807 J. Barlow Columbiad vii. 260 Now roll, with kindling haste, the long stark lines, From wing to wing the sounding battle joins.
1915 Observer 9 May 10/4 No one will be stark and mighty enough to punish in such sort that their example shall never be followed in the world again.
d. figurative. Chiefly Scottish. Of a reason, cause, sensation, etc.: strong, convincing, having a powerful effect. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > quality of inspiring wonder > [adjective] > of wonder: powerful
starkc1275
the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [adjective] > strong (of a reason)
starkc1485
c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 1473 Wundere me þungþ wel starc & stor [a1300 Jesus Oxf. stark & sor] Hu eni mon [etc.].
c1455 Quoniam Attachiamenta c. 56, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue (at cited word) Tharfor throu starkar resoune he may well be vnderstandin to ioyis it gif.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 113 And ȝit ane othir mare stark resoun is, ffor the decreis sais, yat [etc.].
1559 D. Lindsay Test. Papyngo 221 in Wks. (1931) I. Quhydder that I wes strickin in extasie, Or throuch one stark imagynatioun, Bot it apperit [etc.]
1587–8 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1881) 1st Ser. IV. 242 Upoun bettir avisement and starkare ressonis.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 50 Of quhilke a stark rasone thay vse to collecte, that in..riueris in Irland, quhilkes..ar baith maist cleir, and maist pure, Salmonte in gretter number thair ar takne.
1640 R. Baillie Lett. & Jrnls. (1841) I. 286 It [sc. a petition] is now posting through the land for hands to make it stark.
2000 R. Fairnie Scots Tung Wittins (SCOTS) No. 78 The'r an ongaun difference in the European Pairlament anent whuther the minority leids shuid be includit in this or no an the starkest uphaud for haein thaim in is comin frae Eluned Morgan MEP (Wales) an Gorka Knorr Borras MEP (Catalonia).
2008 D. Ogston in R. Fairnie Scots Tung Wittins (SCOTS) No. 172 Caa forrit wie the sterk defence o the tongue.
e. Originally Scottish. Of a substance, esp. liquor: strong, potent. Now rare. [In quot. 2005 after German Starkbier, lit. ‘strong beer’. In quot. 1864 probably intended to render Norwegian sterk.]
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > poison > [adjective] > having specific qualities (of poison)
deadlyc1380
starkc1485
virulent1577
lingeringa1616
irritant1828
intoxicative1854
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > types or qualities of intoxicating liquor > [adjective] > strong
strongeOE
stalec1300
mainc1400
nappyc1460
starkc1485
nase?1536
huff-cap1599
nippitatum1600
intoxicating1604
inebriating1610
distempering1613–18
inebriative1615
toxing1635
hogen mogen1653
napping1654
humming1675
hard1700
inebriousa1704
ebrietating1711
bead-proof1753
steeve1801
high-proof1810
pithy1812
stiff1813
inebriant1828
reverent1837
a little more north1864
ebriating1872
rorty1950
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 259 Yat he had drunkyn our stark wyne, or sum othir way, had jn foly and lichtnes maid his appellacioun.
a1513 J. Irland Meroure of Wyssdome (1926) I. 55 The expert and gud medycinare geris nocht to the man that is nicht wait..oure stark medycyne.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 103v Cantharis is a litle litle vermyn..but hauyng in it starke poyson.
a1600 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 186 The Duik of Albanie send his familiear servand..for the wyne and prayit him to send of the best and starkest.
1633 Orkney Witch Trial in J. G. Dalyell Darker Superst. Scot. (1834) 153 Becaus the oyle was not stark enuch, he gat some aquavite to make it starker.
1679 in J. Fletcher et al. Beggers Bush (new ed.) v. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher 50 Comedies & Trag. sig. Mm2v/1 [Second Boor] Stark beer boy, stout and strong beer.
1835 D. Webster Orig. Sc. Rhymes 62 Of the stark aquavitae they baith lo'ed a drappie.
1864 C. I. Elton Norway 239 The host brought us in some spirit in a quaint glass jug, which he assured us was very ‘stark’. As its strength consisted merely in being saturated with peppercorns, we did not trouble it.
1870 J. K. Hunter Life Stud. 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 S. R. Crockett Standard Bearer xiv. 119 Doon at the clachans the stark Hollands flowed like water in a running spate.
2005 L. Hawthorne Beer Drinker's Guide Munich (ed. 5) 148/1 What hasn't been lost is Paulaner Keller's focus on beer, ‘stark’ beer.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective] > of action: involving or requiring vigour > carried out or proceeding with vigour
stiffc1250
busyc1275
greatc1275
sternc1275
smart?a1400
stark1489
thronga1525
vigorous1524
stout1582
intensive1605
spiritful?1611
warm1627
intense1645
mettlesome1645
spirited1670
mettled1682
sturdy1697
energetic1700
vivid1702
robustful1800
toughish1840
lively1844
full out1920
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) xx. l. 8 A part to Norame went..And a stark assege [MS assegis] has set.
c1600 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) II. 195 That nycht the towne of Edinburgh keipit ane stark watch in the towne.
c1600 Diurnal of Remarkable Occurrents (1833) 11 And in this mene tyme was stark watcheing in Edinh about kingis grace.
1865 J. D. Marwick High Constables ii. 53 Another act, on the 4th of April, ordered a wooden barras (or barrier) to be erected before the castle, and a stark watch to be set.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > quality of colour > [adjective] > intense
strongOE
richc1330
finea1387
stark1547
deep1555
full1599
saturate1669
generous1710
lush1744
saturated1791
lushy1821
robust1826
raised1846
high-keyed1879
acid1916
1547 R. Record Vrinal of 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. † b. English regional (Yorkshire). Of a rope, chain, etc.: taut, tight, not slack. Obsolete.† c. English regional (midlands and southern). Of land: hard with drought. Obsolete.
a. Of a physical thing: stiff, rigid in form, not supple or flexible; esp. stiffened through drying, cold, or disuse. Formerly also: †bristly, prickly (obsolete).
ΚΠ
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxxviii. 518 Hi..ealne his lichaman mid stearcum wiððum, swa swa him beboden wæs, gewriðon.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 127 Weste was his wunienge and stark haire of oluente his wede.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 2118 Furst sche tok out þe croune sterk þat crist on is heued let.
?c1450 in Anglia (1896) 18 296 Ley it on þe hed þat hath gret werk, And hetyth [perh. read het yt] ageyn, whann it is stark [emended in ed. to sterk].
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 950 (MED) Whils his leggys wer vp on hight, His clathes stode sterk, euen vp ryght, And hilde his leggis.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 926 How cuthbert childe stode on his croune..; In his playng a wondir harke, his clathes aboute his leggys stode starke.
1582 Edinb. Test. X. 339 in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue (at cited word) He leuis to Thomas Broun his bruther..ane pair of blew schankis and tua round stark sarkis.
1591 G. Fletcher Of Russe Common Wealth ii. f. 4 You shall sensibly feele your breath to waxe starke, and euen stifeling with the colde, as you draw it in and out.
1602 in J. D. Marwick Rec. Convent. Royal Burghs Scotl. (1870) II. 143 Ilk skipper is haldin detbund to haue in his schipe stark cordellis and winding takill to sett in and out the merchandis guidis.
1713 W. Derham Physico-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 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 291 Stark or Starky, stiff, dry.
1883 R. Bridges Prometheus 61 O heavenly fire,..O spirit of rage & might, Who canst unchain the links of winter stark.
1889 E. Peacock Gloss. Words Manley & Corringham, Lincs. (ed. 2) (at cited word) This smock's a deal oher stark, I can't wear it while [= until] its weshed.
1975 Lawrence (Kansas) Daily Jrnl.-World 21 Nov. 1/4 They would try to huddle with substitutes under the stiff stark ‘tents’ created from the pulled-off tarps along the sidelines.
2008 J. Phillips 100 Devotions for Pastors & Church Leaders II. lii. 116 The tubular-shaped body wrappings, stark and stiff like a canister, were empty.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > hardness > types of hardness > [adjective] > taut
stiffc1386
unrelaxed1508
taut1567
tight1576
strait1578
strict1578
starka1642
tense1671
stith1825
strict1860
stent1886
a1642 H. Best Farming & Memorandum Bks. (1984) 64 Soe that the bands will blowe aside with the winde and the rigginge blowe away, if yow doe not minde to pull the bands downe starke.
1788 W. Marshall Provincialisms E. Yorks. in Rural Econ. Yorks. II. 356 Stark, tight;..as a stark rope.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > wild or uncultivated land > [adjective] > barren or desert > waterless
thirstya1425
carbuncled1577
unwatered1600
arid1656
starkc1740
thirstful1865
dry land1893
c1740 A. Allen MS. Gl. (E.D.D.) When ye ground is parch't and chop't wth droughth, they say ye ground is stark.
1839 W. Holloway Gen. Dict. Provincialisms (new ed.) 162/2 Ground is said to be very stark, or starked up, when the surface has been dried very suddenly after rain. Sussex. Hants.
1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 291 The ground is so stark, the seeds will not come up.
1893 G. E. Dartnell & E. H. Goddard Gloss. Words Wilts. 156 The ground is got so stark.
d. Of landscape or a feature in the landscape: stiff in outline or formation; (hence) bare, barren, desolate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > [adjective] > scenic > wild
savagec1330
unbenec1400
rudec1405
scragged1519
austere?1580
stark1799
stern1812
1799 Duchess of Devonshire Memorandums Face of Country Switzerland 84 Shivering half-starved firs were clinging to the stark rocks.
1833 H. 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 R. W. Emerson Poems 199 Not of adamant and gold Built he heaven stark and cold.
1872 C. King Mountaineering in Sierra Nevada xii. 258 Among rigid crater rims and stark fields of volcanic sand.
1898 A. Conan Doyle Trag. Korosko v. 131 How cool and beautiful that green looked in the stark, abominable wilderness!
1913 N.Y. Times 21 Dec. c4/6 There is Rockwell Kent, for example, who once painted stark rocks jutting out into cold seas.
1965 M. Bradbury Stepping Westward vii. 343 On campus, many of the trees were now bare, the campanile stood out stark, and the convertibles now had their roofs up.
2012 B. Joyce Surrender ix. 199 The island was treeless, windswept, barren—so stark and desolate.
5.
a. Of a living creature, or of the muscles, limbs, face, etc.: stiff, rigid, lacking suppleness and pliability (through weakness, overexertion, fear, age, cold, etc.). Hence also in extended use, of the senses, eyes, etc.: †not functioning properly (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > loose or stiff condition > [adjective]
leathwakec1000
lithebyc1000
starka1275
stiffc1305
standing1340
bainc1440
waldinc1485
resolveda1500
supplea1500
lash1513
limber1582
sagging1599
laxed1623
unslakeda1625
laxated1652
springy1674
gangling1764
lithesome1768
swack1768
unslackened1770
lissoma1800
wandle1803
loose-limbed1823
loose1846
unslacked1848
saggy1853
loose-jointed1859
loose-hung1869
gangly1871
a1275 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 61 Mine lonke armes, stiue & sterke.
a1325 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 1 Starke waren his armes hi-spred op-on þe rode.
a1450 York Plays (1885) 417 I myght not stande, so was I starke [with fright].
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. iii. 36 My bonys ar so stark: No wonder if thay wark, For I am full old.
a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Biiv A knokylbonyarde wyll counterfet a clarke He wolde trotte gentylly but he is to starke.
1542 A. Borde Compend. Regyment Helth viii. sig. D.iv I do aduertyse you not to..syt by the fyre..for fyre..doth make sterke the synewes & ioyntes of man.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. i. sig. B And downe did lay His heauie head,..Whose sences all were straight benumbd and starke.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 402 [The Mallander] will make a horse go stark, & stumble much.
1646 H. More Cupids Confl. 13 in Democritus Platonissans The clearest truths may well seem dark When sloathfull men have eyes so dimme and stark.
1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 334 We had not strength to make another [bridge of planks] we were so num'd and stark [printed strark], with the cold.
1753 T. Richards Antiquæ Linguæ Britannicæ Thes. Sythu, to grow stark or stiff with cold.
1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna iii. xviii. 66 I sought to close mine eyes, But like the balls, their lids were stiff and stark.
1840 R. H. Barham Hand of Glory in Ingoldsby Legends 1st Ser. 47 But, ere he can vent one inquisitive sniff, That little pug-dog stands stark and stiff.
1886 R. E. G. Cole Gloss. Words S.-W. Lincs. (at cited word) The rheumatis' has left my leg a bit stark.
1944 W. de la Mare Coll. Rhymes & Verses 85 She stoops and listens Stark with fear.
1986 D. Adams et al. Utterly Merry Comic Relief Christmas Bk. 111/1 Her bosom heaved and her face was stark with fright.
2005 P. Gregory Constant Princess 245 The ambassador nodded; her face was so stark and shocked that he could hardly find his voice.
b. Rigid or stiff in death; characterized by rigor mortis.Cf. slightly earlier stark dead adj., and note at sense B. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > dead body > [adjective] > condition of
stiffa1200
colda1400
throa1400
starkc1425
clay-cold1633
stith1755
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. l. 1526 Achilles toke of hym noon hede..to Heber þat lay aforn hym ded, Ful colde and starke.
?1572 T. Paynell tr. Treasurie Amadis of Fraunce x. 263 Solemne teares were shedde vpon the two Princes that laye starke and styffe.
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet iv. i. 103 Each part depriu'd of supple gouernment, Shall stiffe and starke, and cold appeare like death. View more context for this quotation
1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. 136 The bodies of the Persians slaine, waxe drie and starke as stakes.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) iv. ii. 210 [Stage direct. Enter Aruiragus, with Imogen dead.] Bel. How found you him? Arui. Starke, as you see. View more context for this quotation
1762 J. Hoadly Lillo's Arden of Feversham v. 61 The prints of several feet may in the snow be trac'd, From the stark body to the very door.
1841 H. W. Longfellow Wreck of Hesperus in Boston Bk. (ed. 3) 76 A frozen corpse was he. Lash'd to the helm all stiff and stark.
1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake I. vi. 184 They had left nought between the Scheldt and the Somme save stark corpses.
1923 Bismarck (N. Dakota) Tribune 18 Oct. 8/1 Whether the rescuers will be greeted by trembling miners or stark bodies is a matter of conjecture.
1956 J. L. Rutledge Cent. of Confl. xi. 196 There were no defenders, unless it was the stark bodies of two dead French prisoners left behind by the retreating Indians.
2001 Gaston (Gastonia, N. Carolina) Gaz. 18 Feb. h3/3 Later that same evening Major David Wilson..recovered the stark corpse.
2007 S. Blackhall Quarry iv. 47 Miss Vining lay sterk on the bed, her een fixed wide in fricht.
6.
a. Sheer, absolute, unqualified; complete, out-and-out, utter. Cf. sense B. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > utter or absolute
shirea1225
purec1300
properc1380
plainc1395
cleana1400
fine?a1400
entirec1400
veryc1400
starka1425
utterc1430
utterlyc1440
merec1443
absolute1531
outright1532
cleara1535
bloodyc1540
unproachable1544
flat1553
downright1577
sheer1583
right-down?1586
single1590
peremptory1601
perfecta1616
downa1625
implicit1625
every way1628
blank1637
out-and-outa1642
errant1644
inaccessional1651
thorough-paced1651
even down1654
dead1660
double-dyed1667
through stitch1681
through-stitched1682
total1702
thoroughgoing1719
thorough-sped1730
regular1740
plumb1748
hollow1751
unextenuated1765
unmitigated1783
stick, stock, stone dead1796
positive1802
rank1809
heart-whole1823
skire1825
solid1830
fair1835
teetotal1840
bodacious1845
raw1856
literal1857
resounding1873
roaring1884
all out1893
fucking1893
pink1896
twenty-four carat1900
grand slam1915
stone1928
diabolical1933
fricking1937
righteous1940
fecking1952
raving1954
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 7290 Bvt vnto you dar I not lye But myght I felen..That ye perceyued it no thyng Ye shulde haue a stark lesyng Right in youre honde.
c1450 (c1415) in W. O. Ross Middle Eng. Serm. (1940) 210 (MED) Þat [restitution] þei will not do, for þan þei shuld make here wiff and here children starke beggers.
?1529 Proper Dyaloge Gentillman & Husbandman sig. B iiij By saynt mary syr that is a starcke lye.
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. iii. sig. B.ijv But it will be starke nyght before I shall haue done.
1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte Exam. Mens Wits xv. §4. 309 The whole..is in my conceit a starcke leasing, and very mockerie.
1611 B. Jonson Catiline i. sig. C3 Consider, first, the starke security The common wealth is in, now. View more context for this quotation
a1661 B. Holyday tr. Juvenal Satyres (1673) 182 To escape starke beggery.
1701 J. Collier tr. M. Aurelius Medit. (1726) 292 Let all this be done out of stark love and kindness.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1728 I. 25 Boswell: ‘That, Sir, was great fortitude of mind.’ Johnson: ‘No, Sir; stark insensibility.’
1820 P. B. Shelley Vision of Sea in Prometheus Unbound 174 From the stark night of vapours the dim rain is driven.
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’ xxv. 333 When a stark calm left the surface of the bay as smooth as a river.
1973 N. Monsarrat Kappillan of Malta 134 Father Salvatore..running for shelter as soon as the ferocious uproar began, experienced his first moment of stark terror.
2015 Cape Argus (Nexis) 12 Mar. 13 We live in a depressingly binary world where everything, in so many ways, is either stark black or crisp white.
b. spec. Qualifying an unfavourable appellation of a person: arrant, thorough, unmitigated.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > utter or absolute > of something bad or reprobated > of a person
arrant1393
errant1393
starka1470
unconscionable1591
omnipotent1596
incarnative1598
run devil1786
incarnate1820
blithering1889
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 161 Be a knyght never so good..they woll make hym a starke cowerde.
c1480 (a1400) St. John Evangelist 401 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 120 He lefit þe bischope, & vent þan to sterk thefis.
1530 J. Rastell New Bk. Purgatory iii. xv. sig. h 4v He shall be proued a very stark fole that wyll beleue that there is no purgatory.
1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus i. f. 44 Yet if he giue it ouer, and not vse to shote..he shalbe come of a fayre archer, a stark squyrter and dribber.
1614 in J. R. N. Macphail Highland Papers (1920) III. 172 Ane stark theiff and captane of theifis.
1652 R. Brome Joviall Crew ii. sig. E1 I mean stark, errant, downright Beggars, I, Without equivocation; Statute Beggars.
a1711 T. Ken Serm. preached at Whitehall in Prose Wks. (1838) 123 Beauty is often incident to stark fools.
1750 S. Berington Dialogue between Gallows & Free Thinker (ed. 3) 20 That Man would be a stark Fool, who should trust his Life and Fortune to your Honour, when you laugh at the very fundamental Laws of Nature.
1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna xi. xii. 243 'Tis but a crowd of maniacs stark.
1877 T. De W. Talmage Serm. 260 Before we make stark fools of ourselves, let us stop pressing this everlasting ‘Why’.
1924 Iola (Kansas) Daily Reg. 4 Aug. 4/2 Such persons are just as incapable of any qualms of conscience as a stark idiot is incapable of any processes of logic or reason.
1991 Vancouver Sun (Nexis) 7 Sept. b4 If all this, Liberal and Conservative, seems rather like a tale told by a caucus of stark idiots, there was a certain logic to it.
2011 W. N. Akombi Dirty Game iv. 26 Advising such stark nincompoops is like injecting a death body for recovery.
7. = stark naked adj. 1 Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > nakedness or state of being unclothed > [adjective]
nakedOE
bareOE
start nakedc1225
nakec1300
unarrayedc1380
clothelessc1386
mother-nakedc1390
stark nakedc1390
bareda1400
naked as a needlec1400
unattiredc1400
uncladc1400
uncoveredc1400
loose1423
unclothedc1440
belly-nakeda1500
naked as one's nail1563
unabuilyeit1568
sindonlessc1595
leathern1596
disarrayed1611
undressed1613
debaredc1620
unapparelled1622
unaccoutred?1750
stark1762
disrobed1794
ungarmented1798
undraped1814
au naturel1828
nude1830
skyclad1832
garbless1838
kitless1846
spar-naked1849
raimentless1852
undoffed1854
togless1857
garmentless1866
naked as a robin1866
clothesless1868
sky clothed1878
nakedized1885
altogether1896
buck naked1913
raw1916
bollock naked1922
starkers1923
starko1923
stitchless1927
naked as a jaybird1931
bollock1950
rollock naked1962
nekkid1977
kit-off1992
1762 H. Walpole Let. 15 Mar. in Corr. (1974) XXXVIII. 155 What dreadful discoveries will be made both on fat and lean! I recommend to you the idea of Mrs Cavendish, when half-stark.
1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna iii. xiii. 63 They bore me to a cavern..And one did strip me stark.
1885 R. Bridges Eros & Psyche i. xxx. 12 Behind came Tritons..Greenbearded, tailed 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.
1922 W. J. Locke Tale of Triona v. 64 Before her eyes swayed..various forms all stark flesh, flashing jewels and a maze of colours, whom she knew to be women.
1963 J. Fowles Collector i. 10 Books you can buy at shops in Soho, books of stark women and all that.
8.
a. Characterized by or indicating an unpleasant truth or grim reality; difficult or impossible to ignore or deny; brutally clear.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [adjective] > inauspicious > of aspect threatening misfortune
ominousa1593
sinister1797
stark1847
grim1873
1847 Belfast News Let. 9 Nov. Mr. Salt drew a picture of the stark reality, which strangely contrasts with Lord John's cheerful vaticinations.
1927 Amer. Mercury Jan. 124/1 Falsity persuasively presented often..makes a deeper impression and registers a deeper conviction than stark reality not trickily theatricalized.
1959 R. V. Remini W. Van Buren & Making of Democratic Party ii. 12 The charred remains left by the ‘arsonist’ British..served as stark reminders of the price of liberty and the penalty of war.
1970 Daily Herald (Biloxi, Mississippi) 16 Aug. g2/4 At that moment, with the stark realization that those left must fight back, the recovery began.
1998 Earth Matters Autumn 24/1 Governments will then face a stark choice: either sign away the rights of their citizens, or be starved of investment and face economic stagnation if they stay on the outside.
2011 Guardian (Nexis) 5 Mar. 24 There are no conditions too rough, or warnings too stark, to preclude a night working for money to buy the drugs on which they depend.
b. Of a plan, method, approach, etc.: inflexible, rigid, admitting of no compromise or alternative.In origin largely a figurative use of sense A. 4.
ΚΠ
1850 R. W. Emerson Montaigne in Representative Men iv. 160 The Spartan and Stoic schemes are too stark and stiff for our occasion.
1852 W. E. Gladstone Functions of Laymen in Church 26 We seem to require an elasticity of system..which is in entire contrast with our rather stark and rigid methods.
1886 F. Harrison Choice Bks. 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.
1925 C. E. Vaughan Stud. Hist. Polit. Philos. I. v. 261 To Helvétius, Bentham and others, expediency, so far from being a flexible principle, is in effect hardly less stark and rigid than the rival principle of Rights.
1956 G. S. N. Luckyj Lit. Politics in Soviet Ukraine, 1917–34 (1990) vii. 156 The general atmosphere of Ukrainian literary life in 1930 became increasingly tense and demands upon literature grew more stark and inflexible.
2003 Daily Mail (Nexis) 1 July 30 Their counsel Robin Tolson QC described the law as too stark, too rigid and too inflexible.
c. Of a contrast, disparity, etc.: strong, striking; plainly or sharply differentiated.
ΚΠ
1867 Illustr. London News 16 Feb. 170/3 Of the Italian and Algerian subjects by Mr. Binyon, one at least has the opposite fault of stark contrasts of light and shade.
1929 L. A. G. Strong Dewer Rides ii. xi. 171 Next, a burst of human voices, their harsh inadequacy in stark contrast to the bells.
1931 Times 15 Aug. 6/1 There is a stark contradiction between the spirit of service and the practice of overstatement.
1972 R. T. Denommé French Parnassian Poets iv. 94 The stark juxtaposition of scenes which alternatively evoke life and death endows the poem with a certain tragic and epic sense.
1990 Entertainm. Weekly 20 Apr. 56/3 The precisely etched warmth of the strings sets her voice in stark relief.
2010 S. Wolf Changed for Good iv. 155 The gendered difference is stark: the man controls the boat and so appears active, while the woman sits still.
d. Unadorned, shorn of ornament or detail; exposed, stripped down to essentials.In origin largely a figurative use of sense A. 7.
ΚΠ
1871 M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma in Cornhill Mag. July 44 If all the law they were thinking of stood stark and fixed before their eyes already.
1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles I. v. 69 He felt the necessity of recommencing with a name..less commonplace than the two original bald stark words.
1915 D. H. Lawrence Rainbow (1972) vii. 205 Soon he would be stark, stark, without one place wherein to stand, without one belief in which to rest.
1931 State Center (Iowa) Enterprise 29 Oct. 2/3 That wealth evaporates and leaves men stark and with naked hearts.
1956 Times Lit. Suppl. 17 Feb. 93/1 Idyllic romanticism, stark realism and astringent irony combine..to form a bewildering whole.
1981 A. Gray Lanark iii. v. 36 Her austere manner and clothing had made Lanark expect a stark room.
1989 R. Rendell Bridesmaid vi. 92 There were people like that, people for whom the truth was too stark and bare, who needed to pretty it up.
2006 New Yorker 13 Feb. 175/2 The writing and the directing are stripped down and stark, as is the concrete-and-glass interior of C.T.U.
B. adv.
1. Strenuously, vigorously, hard; boldly, stoutly; firmly, strongly; (in later use) plainly, bluntly. Now rare (chiefly Scottish in later use).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adverb]
hardlyeOE
strongeOE
hardOE
fastOE
starklyOE
stalworthlyc1175
starkc1225
mainlyc1300
fellc1330
snellc1330
stout1338
wightlya1340
sadlya1375
sharplyc1380
tough1398
stoutly1399
throa1400
wighta1400
lustilyc1400
sorec1400
vigourslyc1400
stiff1422
vigoriouslya1450
vigorouslya1450
actuallya1470
stourlyc1480
forcely?a1500
lustly1529
fricklyc1540
dingilya1555
livelily?1565
crankly1566
forcibly1578
crank1579
wightily?a1600
proudly1600
energetically1609
stiffly1623
ding-dong1628
greenly1633
hard and fast1646
slashingly1659
thwackingly1660
warmlya1684
robustly1709
sonsily1729
forcefullya1774
vim1843
zippily1924
vibrantly1926
punchily1934
zingily1951
c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Royal) (1981) l. 891 Te irnene preones swa scharpe & swa starke borien þurh ant beoren forð on þet oðer half þet te hweoles beon þurh-spitet.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 8326 Samuel nom Agag..& lædde hine a þan cheping. & lette hine swiðe sterke [c1300 Otho faste] to ane stake binde.
a1513 J. Irland Meroure of Wyssdome (1965) II. 5 The beir has sa stark feit that the thing that he grippis he haldis sa stark.
a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 673 The wind it blew so stark out of the south,..it draif thame to the north.
1794 Har'st Rig lxxv. 25 Now kempen folk, they dinae lo'e They work sae stark.
1893 G. MacDonald Sc. Songs & Ballads 127 The auld fowk lie still wi' their een starin 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.
1990 J. Reid in J. A. Begg & J. Reid Dipper & Three Wee Deils (SCOTS) He..Caas oot the men an tells them stark Bauld Pharoah's plan for increased wark.
2. To the fullest extent or degree; absolutely, utterly, completely. Cf. sense A. 6.† c. Modifying a verb. (In quots. perhaps also with implications of sense A. 5: to the point of stiffness or over-exhaustion.) Obsolete.
a. Modifying an adjective, esp. in stark mad; also (Nautical) stark calm. See also stark blind adj., stark dead adj., stark naked adj. and n., stark naught adj. and n.Recorded earliest in stark dead adj. and stark naked adj. (in origin an alteration of start naked adj.), and slightly later also in stark blind adj. (probably in origin an alteration of star-blind adj.1). In stark dead adj., stark perhaps originally had connotations of sense A. 5.The adverb is often hyphenated with the following adjective, esp. when used attributively.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > utterly
allOE
allOE
outlyOE
thwert-outc1175
skerea1225
thoroughc1225
downrightc1275
purec1300
purelyc1300
faira1325
finelyc1330
quitec1330
quitelyc1330
utterlyc1374
outerlya1382
plainlya1382
straighta1387
allutterly1389
starkc1390
oultrelya1393
plata1393
barec1400
outrightc1400
incomparablyc1422
absolutely?a1425
simpliciter?a1425
staringa1425
quitementa1450
properlyc1450
directly1455
merec1475
incomparable1482
preciselyc1503
clean?1515
cleara1522
plain1535
merely1546
stark1553
perfectly1555
right-down1566
simply1574
flat1577
flatly1577
skire1581
plumb1588
dead?1589
rankly1590
stark1593
sheera1600
start1599
handsmooth1600
peremptory1601
sheerly1601
rank1602
utter1619
point-blank1624
proofa1625
peremptorily1626
downrightly1632
right-down1646
solid1651
clever1664
just1668
hollow1671
entirely1673
blank1677
even down1677
cleverly1696
uncomparatively1702
subtly1733
point1762
cussed1779
regularly1789
unqualifiedly1789
irredeemably1790
positively1800
cussedly1802
heart1812
proper1816
slick1818
blankly1822
bang1828
smack1828
pluperfectly1831
unmitigatedly1832
bodaciously1833
unredeemedly1835
out of sight1839
bodacious1845
regular1846
thoroughly1846
ingrainedly1869
muckinga1880
fucking1893
motherless1898
self1907
stone1928
sideways1956
terminally1974
c1390 (?c1350) Joseph of Arimathie (1871) l. 567 [He] Baar him doun of his hors and..strok him stark ded þat he sturede neuere.
c1489 J. Skelton Dethe Erle of Northumberlande l. 50 in Poet. Wks. (1843) I. 8 I say, ye comoners, why wer ye so stark mad?
1561 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger Hundred Serm. vpon Apocalips xli. 274 Our religion is true, and yours starke false.
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 63 They forced them sometimes to drincke wine..till they had made them starke drunke.
1593 G. Harvey Pierces Supererogation 150 Iwis hee mought haue spied a difference..betwene raging, and starke-madd.
c1595 Capt. Wyatt in G. F. Warner Voy. R. Dudley to W. Indies (1899) 52 Havinge somtimes most soden gustes and againe in a moment beinge starke becalmed.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iii. ii. 53 His horse..starke spoyl'd with the Staggers. View more context for this quotation
1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia v. 182 In the evening it grew starke calme.
1661 S. Pepys Diary 23 Apr. (1970) II. 87 We drank the King's health..till one of the genlemen fell down stark drunk and there lay.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 21 Going a fishing in a stark calm Morning.
a1721 M. Prior Cromwell & Porter in Wks. (1907) II. 281 You may study among the Law givers without being stark wild about Ordinances and Proclamations.
1764 Dialogue containing Refl. 3 Puh! Puh! Puh! Mad indeed! Quite mad! Stark mad! What in the name of the D—l have we to do with Cato's, Sempronies's, or Syphax's.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian v, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. 130 But every body was, for the moment, stark-mad on the subject of Porteous.
1823 W. Scoresby Jrnl. Voy. Northern Whale-fishery 390 It fell stark calm.
1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. III 45 And, stark awake, with beating heart He put the hawthorn twigs apart.
1927 Albuquerque (New Mexico) Jrnl. 23 June 2/4 Ward's finish at the eighteenth hole, which denoted the exit of the champion, drove the gallery stark wild.
1988 A. Tyler Breathing Lessons (1989) ii. 139 The car is setting stark still.
2011 Wales on Sunday (Nexis) 30 Oct. 16 Just because a woman looks as though she shares her home with loads of cats, it doesn't necessarily mean she's stark mad.
b. Modifying a participial adjective, esp. staring, raving. Now usually in stark raving (also staring) mad. Also stark ravers (slang): see ravers adj.In later use the collocation stark staring is often felt as a mere strengthening of stark.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > [adjective] > insanity or madness > affected with
woodc725
woodsekc890
giddyc1000
out of (by, from, of) wit or one's witc1000
witlessc1000
brainsickOE
amadc1225
lunaticc1290
madc1330
sickc1340
brain-wooda1375
out of one's minda1387
frenetica1398
fonda1400
formada1400
unwisea1400
brainc1400
unwholec1400
alienate?a1425
brainless1434
distract of one's wits1470
madfula1475
furious1475
distract1481
fro oneself1483
beside oneself1490
beside one's patience1490
dementa1500
red-wood?1507
extraught1509
misminded1509
peevish1523
bedlam-ripe1525
straughta1529
fanatic1533
bedlama1535
daft1540
unsounda1547
stark raving (also staring) mad1548
distraughted1572
insane1575
acrazeda1577
past oneself1576
frenzy1577
poll-mad1577
out of one's senses1580
maddeda1586
frenetical1588
distempered1593
distraught1597
crazed1599
diswitted1599
idle-headed1599
lymphatical1603
extract1608
madling1608
distracteda1616
informala1616
far gone1616
crazy1617
March mada1625
non compos mentis1628
brain-crazed1632
demented1632
crack-brained1634
arreptitiousa1641
dementate1640
dementated1650
brain-crackeda1652
insaniated1652
exsensed1654
bedlam-witteda1657
lymphatic1656
mad-like1679
dementative1685
non compos1699
beside one's gravity1716
hyte1720
lymphated1727
out of one's head1733
maddened1735
swivel-eyed1758
wrong1765
brainsickly1770
fatuous1773
derangedc1790
alienated1793
shake-brained1793
crack-headed1796
flighty1802
wowf1802
doitrified1808
phrenesiac1814
bedlamite1815
mad-braineda1822
fey1823
bedlamitish1824
skire1825
beside one's wits1827
as mad as a hatter1829
crazied1842
off one's head1842
bemadded1850
loco1852
off one's nut1858
off his chump1864
unsane1867
meshuga1868
non-sane1868
loony1872
bee-headed1879
off one's onion1881
off one's base1882
(to go) off one's dot1883
locoed1885
screwy1887
off one's rocker1890
balmy or barmy on (or in) the crumpet1891
meshuggener1892
nutty1892
buggy1893
bughouse1894
off one's pannikin1894
ratty1895
off one's trolley1896
batchy1898
twisted1900
batsc1901
batty1903
dippy1903
bugs1904
dingy1904
up the (also a) pole1904
nut1906
nuts1908
nutty as a fruitcake1911
bugged1920
potty1920
cuckoo1923
nutsy1923
puggled1923
blah1924
détraqué1925
doolally1925
off one's rocket1925
puggle1925
mental1927
phooey1927
crackers1928
squirrelly1928
over the edge1929
round the bend1929
lakes1934
ding-a-ling1935
wacky1935
screwball1936
dingbats1937
Asiatic1938
parlatic1941
troppo1941
up the creek1941
screwed-up1943
bonkers1945
psychological1952
out to lunch1955
starkers1956
off (one's) squiff1960
round the twist1960
yampy1963
out of (also off) one's bird1966
out of one's skull1967
whacked out1969
batshit1971
woo-woo1971
nutso1973
out of (one's) gourd1977
wacko1977
off one's meds1986
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke vi. f. 6–11 Thei are turned into stercke staryng madnesse [L. in amentiam].
c1555 Manifest Detection Diceplay sig. Aviii R. Euery Player..payeth a Crowne..towards the house charges. M. Ye may fare well of that price at the starke staring stewes.
1562 J. Heywood Firste Hundred Epigrammes (new ed.) lxix. in Wks. sig. P I thinke it as good, by ought I can deuise, To be starke staryng blinde, as thus to haue eies.
1575 G. Gascoigne Fruites of Warre cvii, in Posies sig. Iiiiiv The tide skarce good, the winde starke staring naught.
1640 J. D. Knave in Graine v. i. sig. L3 Did not I say he's mad, starke raving mad, away with him.
1695 J. Dryden in tr. C. A. du Fresnoy Art of Painting Pref. p. xl The fury of his natural temper, made every Man and Woman too in his Plays stark raging mad.
1702 C. Beaumont J. Beaumont's Psyche (new ed.) xii. xxxii. 183 Stark raving she and roaring prov'd.
1734 H. Fielding Intrig. Chambermaid ii. vi. 33 I find, I am distracted, I am stark raving mad.
1788 J. Wesley Serm. Several Occasions VI. 22 It is such stark-staring nonsense, as every man of sense ought to be utterly ashamed of.
1833 T. Hood Lost Heir in Mirror Lit., Amusem., & Instr. Suppl. No. 637. 390/1 Oh Lord! O dear, my heart will break, I shall go stick stark staring wild!
1850 G. Cupples Green Hand iv. 39/1 One morning, when Westwood and I went on deck, it was a stark staring calm.
1894 Mrs. H. Ward Marcella II. iii. i. 263 The whole thing is stark staring lunacy.
1929 K. Millay Against Wall 428 I'm going to get out of here before I'm stark staring mad like all the rest of you—stark—staring—mad! Mad!
1958 E. Dundy Dud Avocado iii. vi. 270 My first thought was that I had gone stark raving mad..and that I was now hallucinating in a looney bin.
1987 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 13 July 14 Australia and its ASEAN neighbours would be stark-staring mad not to push the Americans and Russians for nuclear-free zones at every opportunity.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > utterly
allOE
allOE
outlyOE
thwert-outc1175
skerea1225
thoroughc1225
downrightc1275
purec1300
purelyc1300
faira1325
finelyc1330
quitec1330
quitelyc1330
utterlyc1374
outerlya1382
plainlya1382
straighta1387
allutterly1389
starkc1390
oultrelya1393
plata1393
barec1400
outrightc1400
incomparablyc1422
absolutely?a1425
simpliciter?a1425
staringa1425
quitementa1450
properlyc1450
directly1455
merec1475
incomparable1482
preciselyc1503
clean?1515
cleara1522
plain1535
merely1546
stark1553
perfectly1555
right-down1566
simply1574
flat1577
flatly1577
skire1581
plumb1588
dead?1589
rankly1590
stark1593
sheera1600
start1599
handsmooth1600
peremptory1601
sheerly1601
rank1602
utter1619
point-blank1624
proofa1625
peremptorily1626
downrightly1632
right-down1646
solid1651
clever1664
just1668
hollow1671
entirely1673
blank1677
even down1677
cleverly1696
uncomparatively1702
subtly1733
point1762
cussed1779
regularly1789
unqualifiedly1789
irredeemably1790
positively1800
cussedly1802
heart1812
proper1816
slick1818
blankly1822
bang1828
smack1828
pluperfectly1831
unmitigatedly1832
bodaciously1833
unredeemedly1835
out of sight1839
bodacious1845
regular1846
thoroughly1846
ingrainedly1869
muckinga1880
fucking1893
motherless1898
self1907
stone1928
sideways1956
terminally1974
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 75 Antisthenes made suche a long oracion, that he starke weried all his hearers.
a1661 B. Holyday tr. Juvenal Satyres (1673) 146 Whiles he strives to perfect the boy, he starke tires himself.
d. Modifying an adverb or adverbial phrase. Now esp. in stark out of one's mind.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > utterly
allOE
allOE
outlyOE
thwert-outc1175
skerea1225
thoroughc1225
downrightc1275
purec1300
purelyc1300
faira1325
finelyc1330
quitec1330
quitelyc1330
utterlyc1374
outerlya1382
plainlya1382
straighta1387
allutterly1389
starkc1390
oultrelya1393
plata1393
barec1400
outrightc1400
incomparablyc1422
absolutely?a1425
simpliciter?a1425
staringa1425
quitementa1450
properlyc1450
directly1455
merec1475
incomparable1482
preciselyc1503
clean?1515
cleara1522
plain1535
merely1546
stark1553
perfectly1555
right-down1566
simply1574
flat1577
flatly1577
skire1581
plumb1588
dead?1589
rankly1590
stark1593
sheera1600
start1599
handsmooth1600
peremptory1601
sheerly1601
rank1602
utter1619
point-blank1624
proofa1625
peremptorily1626
downrightly1632
right-down1646
solid1651
clever1664
just1668
hollow1671
entirely1673
blank1677
even down1677
cleverly1696
uncomparatively1702
subtly1733
point1762
cussed1779
regularly1789
unqualifiedly1789
irredeemably1790
positively1800
cussedly1802
heart1812
proper1816
slick1818
blankly1822
bang1828
smack1828
pluperfectly1831
unmitigatedly1832
bodaciously1833
unredeemedly1835
out of sight1839
bodacious1845
regular1846
thoroughly1846
ingrainedly1869
muckinga1880
fucking1893
motherless1898
self1907
stone1928
sideways1956
terminally1974
1593 J. Eliot Ortho-epia Gallica ii. vi. 45/2 Mad is the man, and starke out of his wit: Who drinks carrouse, and laugheth not a whit.
1668 T. Shadwell Sullen Lovers ii. 17 O' my Conscience thou art stark out of thy Wits.
1863 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of 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’ On Trial xvii. 148 I've half a mind to turn him stark out o' the house.
1939 L. Hellman Little Foxes i. 3 You gone stark out of your head?
1960 Lowell (Mass.) Sun 8 Mar. 5/5 His buddy asked if he'd gone stark out of his mind.
2011 P. C. Wrede Across Great Barrier iv. 46 Three men so stark out of their minds that some folks still said they'd made up their whole story.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
starkv.
/stɑːk/, U.S. /stɑrk/ Now rare (chiefly regional in later use).† 2. transitive. To strengthen, make sturdy or strong. Also intransitive: to grow strong. Obsolete.† 3. transitive. English regional (southern). To harden or dry up (land) with drought. Cf. stark adj. 4c. Obsolete.
1. † b. transitive. To make stiff. Obsolete. rare.
a. intransitive. To become stiff or rigid. Also: (of liquid) to coagulate, solidify. Now Irish English (northern).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > density or solidity > become (more) dense or solid [verb (intransitive)]
thicka1000
starkOE
congealc1400
starken?a1513
concrease1578
thicken1598
knit1605
condensate1607
fix1626
saddena1642
concretea1676
incrassate1733
solidify1837
consolidate1885
the world > matter > constitution of matter > hardness > types of hardness > [verb (intransitive)] > become stiff or rigid
starkOE
starken?a1513
rigidify1829
rigidize1858
OE Prudentius Glosses (Boulogne 189) in H. D. Meritt Old Eng. Prudentius Glosses (1959) 108 Riget : durescit, stearcode.
a1325 Gloss. W. de Bibbesworth (Arun.) (1857) 149 Les nerfs de bewor engurdisst [glossed] starken [a1325 Cambr. swellin].
a1400 in F. J. Furnivall Polit., Relig., & Love Poems (1903) 250 (MED) Þin hew dunnet and þi sennewess starket.
c1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Testament (Harl. 218) l. 244 in Minor Poems (1911) i. 244 (MED) The onweldy Ioyntes starked with rudenesse..To me of death han brought in the kalendes.
?1527 Iudycyall of Vryns ii. vi. 27 It causeth rigor Anglice starkyng and racchyng for colde.
1615 J. Sylvester Hymn of Almes 50 in 2nd Session Parl. Vertues Reall To stark for Cold, to starue for Food.
1996 C. I. Macafee Conc. Ulster Dict. 332/1 Stark, starken, (of fat, etc.) congeal, harden.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > hardness > types of hardness > [verb (transitive)] > make stiff or rigid
stivea1375
stiff1486
stent1488
stiffen1622
rigidify1842
stark1862
rigidize1936
1862 H. Taylor St. Clement's Eve v. v. 179 Arise, if horror have not stark'd your limbs.
1922 Illustr. Canad. Forestry Mag. Dec. 1182/3 At the first shock we shall be starked and gaped with horror; upon meditation we shall be bowed down with shame.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily strength > strengthening > make strong [verb (transitive)]
strengha1175
strengthc1300
fastena1398
starka1400
fortify14..
enstrength1483
roborate1534
enstrengthen1539
strengthen1539
strengthen1546
masculate1623
nerve1694
nervate1792
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 1845 Þe stormes starked wit þe wind.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) xii. l. 892 And Iohn Wallang, was than schirreff off Fyff, Till Wallace past, starkyt him in that stryff.
1562 W. Turner Bk. Natures Bathes Eng. f. 8, in 2nd Pt. Herball This bath..sterketh and streingtheneth verye muche the broken place.
ΚΠ
1838 W. Holloway Gen. Dict. Provincialisms 162/2 Ground is said to be very stark, or starked up, when the surface has been dried very suddenly after rain. Sussex. Hants.
1893 G. E. Dartnell & E. H. Goddard Gloss. Words Wilts. 156 The ground is got so stark—you see the hot sun after the rain did stark the top on't.
Derivatives
starked adj. rare stiffened, stiff.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > hardness > [adjective] > hardened
yharded1297
hardeneda1425
hardedc1425
starkeda1500
enharded1523
indurate1531
stonied1590
over-hardened1612
obdured1619
immarbled1641
stockfished1654
obdurate1743
hard-set?1781
a1500 (?c1440) J. Lydgate Horse, Goose & Sheep (Lansd.) l. 388 in Minor Poems (1934) ii. 555 It..Causith men starkid bonys to recure; Dede synnewis restorith a-geyn to live.
1847 Farmer's Mag. July 205/2 The lambs get starked and look rough in their skins unless some good dry food is also used.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.21541n.31611
n.41914
adj.n.1adv.eOE
v.OE