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. staerk, Icel. sterkr, Goth. gastaúrknan to become dried up, Lith. strëgti to stiffen, to freeze. Cf. Starch, a. & n. ] 1. Stiff; rigid. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] Whose senses all were straight benumbed and stark. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ] His heart gan wax as stark as marble stone. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ] Many a nobleman lies stark and stiff
Under the hoofs of vaunting enemies. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] The north is not so stark and cold. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Complete; absolute; full; perfect; entire. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] Consider the stark security
The common wealth is in now. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Strong; vigorous; powerful. [ 1913 Webster ] A stark, moss-trooping Scot. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ] Stark beer, boy, stout and strong beer. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Severe; violent; fierce. [ Obs. ] “In starke stours” [ i. e., in fierce combats ]. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. Mere; sheer; gross; entire; downright. [ 1913 Webster ] He pronounces the citation stark nonsense. Collier. [ 1913 Webster ] Rhetoric is very good or stark naught; there's no medium in rhetoric. Selden. [ 1913 Webster ] | 
