stark (adj.)
Old English stearc "stiff, strong, rigid (as in death), obstinate; stern, severe, hard; harsh, rough, violent," from Proto-Germanic *starka- (source also of Old Norse starkr, Danish sterk, Old Frisian sterk, Middle Dutch starc, Old High German starah, German stark, Gothic *starks), from PIE root *ster- (1) "stiff." From the same root as stern (adj.).
The meaning "utter, sheer, complete" is recorded by c. 1300, perhaps from the notion of "strict," or "all-powerful" or by influence of the common phrase stark dead (late 14c.), with stark mistaken as an intensive adjective.
The sense of "bare, barren" is from 1833. In Middle English also "stiff with fear or emotion," also, of buildings, etc., "strongly made." As an adverb from c. 1200, "firmly, strongly." Related: Starkly; starkness.
Stark-raving (adj.) is from 1640s; earlier stark-staring 1530s (excessive staring was a mark of madness and in Middle English staring wood was "stark mad").
Trends of stark
updated on July 05, 2023
Dictionary entries near stark
stare
stare decisis
starfish
star-fruit
star-gazer
stark
stark-naked
starless
starlet
starlight
starling
