Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Starkest"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Stark \Stark\, a. [Compar. {Starker}; superl. {Starkest}.] [OE.
stark stiff, strong, AS. stearc; akin to OS. starc strong, D.
sterk, OHG. starc, starah, G. & Sw. stark, Dan. st[ae]rk,
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.

Whose senses all were straight benumbed and stark.
--Spenser.

His heart gan wax as stark as marble stone.
--Spenser.

Many a nobleman lies stark and stiff Under the hoofs
of vaunting enemies. --Shak.

The north is not so stark and cold. --B. Jonson.

2. Complete; absolute; full; perfect; entire. [Obs.]

Consider the stark security The common wealth is in
now. --B. Jonson.

3. Strong; vigorous; powerful.

A stark, moss-trooping Scot. --Sir W.
Scott.

Stark beer, boy, stout and strong beer. --Beau. &
Fl.

4. Severe; violent; fierce. [Obs.] ``In starke stours.'' [i.
e., in fierce combats]. --Chaucer.

5. Mere; sheer; gross; entire; downright.

He pronounces the citation stark nonsense.
--Collier.

Rhetoric is very good or stark naught; there's no
medium in rhetoric. --Selden.


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