From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
stare \stare\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {stared} (st[^a]rd); p. pr. &
vb. n. {staring}.] [AS. starian; akin to LG. & D. staren,
OHG. star[=e]n, G. starren, Icel. stara; cf. Icel. stira,
Dan. stirre, Sw. stirra, and G. starr stiff, rigid, fixed,
Gr. stereo`s solid (E. stereo-), Skr. sthira firm, strong.
[root]166. Cf. {Sterile}.]
1. To look with fixed eyes wide open, as through fear,
wonder, surprise, impudence, etc.; to fasten an earnest
and prolonged gaze on some object.
[1913 Webster]
For ever upon the ground I see thee stare.
--Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
Look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. To be very conspicuous on account of size, prominence,
color, or brilliancy; as, staring windows or colors.
[1913 Webster]
3. To stand out; to project; to bristle. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Makest my blood cold, and my hair to stare. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Take off all the staring straws and jags in the
hive. --Mortimer.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: To gaze; to look earnestly. See {Gaze}.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
staring
adj 1: (used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder;
"staring eyes" [syn: {agaze}, {staring}]
2: without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative)
intensifiers; "an arrant fool"; "a complete coward"; "a
consummate fool"; "a double-dyed villain"; "gross
negligence"; "a perfect idiot"; "pure folly"; "what a sodding
mess"; "stark staring mad"; "a thoroughgoing villain"; "utter
nonsense"; "the unadulterated truth" [syn: {arrant(a)},
{complete(a)}, {consummate(a)}, {double-dyed(a)},
{everlasting(a)}, {gross(a)}, {perfect(a)}, {pure(a)},
{sodding(a)}, {stark(a)}, {staring(a)}, {thoroughgoing(a)},
{utter(a)}, {unadulterated}]
|