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