Middle English Dictionary Entry
stark adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | stark adj. Also starke, starc(k(e, starch(e, sterk(e, strak(e & (early SWM) stærc, stearc, sterc(e, steorc, (early infl.) stearca, strecen, (early SWM infl.) starkere, stærcne & (in names) star-, stercan-, sterche(s)-, ster- & (?errors) stær, stroke, (error) stake. |
| Etymology | OE stearc, starc, streac; for metathesized forms also cp. OE stræc, strec adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of a person, a part of the body, the wing of a bird: stiff, rigid; stiff with fear; also, faint with emotion [quot.WBible(2) Dan.]; (b) of a building, an artifact: strongly made, solid, sturdy; of a substance, bread, etc.: hard, firm; (c) of camel hair: bristly; of the crown of thorns: stiff or prickly; (d) of clothes: retaining their normal position.
Associated quotations
a
- a1275 Þu þad madist (Trin-C B.14.39)8 : Mine lonke armes, stiue & sterke, Min heþin [read: heyin] arrin dim & derke.
- a1300 Wyth was hys (Dgb 55)p.104 : Starke veren þine armes zat strekede weren so vyde.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)140 : Jaumbes sanz genois e karrez D'engeneler serreint trop rez [glossed:] starke [vrr. stiffe, hard].
- (a1400) *Barton's Urines (Sln 280)f.282r : Wynde, .i. spirit, comyþ from þe spirit in þe hert, & þat makiþ þe gendryng lymys stondyng & stif to þat dede, for hit blouweþ hem þerto stark as wynd doþ a bleddur.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1526 : Heber..Ful colde and starke.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.15.16 : The dwelleris of Canaan weren starke [L obriguerunt]; inward drede falle on hem.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)2 Kings 23.10 : He stood and smoot Filisties til his hond failide and was starke with the swerd.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Dan.10.8 : Y siȝ this greet visioun, and strengthe dwellide not in me..and Y was stark [L emarcui].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)68b/a : He haþ þe feberez; he is rigide, i. starke, [etc.].
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)417/395 : I was a-ferde..I myght not stande, so was I starke [rime: clerke, merke, werke].
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)10563 : Starke ase a stafe his arme con stand and wold not bow his body to.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Eliz.Spalb.(Dc 114)108/2 : Sche abydeþ in the same staat þat sche is rauisched in a good while, alle starke as an ymage of tree or stoon.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)108b/a : It is..for senowis yt bene cut or starke.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)123/20 : Onweldynes of age and febylnes of body haue..made me so heuy, sterke, and onweldy þat I am on-abyl to go.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)172/9 : He saue eche tre full of bryddes lying vpryȝt dede, and her wyngys sprade als þai hade ben stark of þe crosse.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)31/268 : My bonys ar so stark, No wonder if thay wark, ffor I am full old.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)999 : Itt [bread] bakenn wass Full harrd & starrc inn ofne.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2110 : Heoræ sceaftes weoren strake; of his flæsces heo makeden here marce.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8673 : Þer stod þat seolkuð werc, muchel & swiðe sterc.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10592 : Arður..Ron [his spear] nom an honde; he stræhte scaft stærcne.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (Hrl 2277:Horst.)124 : Þis hound ladde þis holi man to an halle..Gret & starc & suyþe noble.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)380 : Hise sone Mouthe bere..In his hand a spere stark.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)542 : Ȝef þey hadde þat child..And slowe him..And smeored þeo werk wiþ his blod, Þenne schulde hit worthe stark and god.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)6129 : Þe heyeste toure..was bothe stronge and starke.
- ?c1450 Iff a man (Stockh 10.90)296/64 : Ley it [poultice] on þe hed þat hath gret werk, And hetyth ageyn whann it is stark.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)710 : Þanne sawe þey yn a park A castell stout and stark.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)1187 : Yren is so hard and stark And man to worche it haþ gret cark.
c
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)127 : Weste was his wunienge and stark haire of oluente his wede.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2118 : Sche tok out þe croune sterk þat crist on is heued let.
d
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)950 : Cuthbert childe stode on his croune..Whils his leggys wer vp on hight His clathes stode sterk, euen vp ryght, And hilde his leggis.
2.
(a) Of a person, an animal, a part of the human or animal body: strong, sturdy; of a monarch or prelate: powerful; of an army, etc.: mighty; also, as noun: strong persons [quots.: a1250, a1400 ME Verse]; often in alliterative phrases: ~ and strong (stout), strong (stout) and ~, etc.; (b) of a person, a person's heart: firm, steadfast, bold; (c) of a person, a person's heart or mind, thoughts, word, etc.: hard, stern, harsh, fierce, arrogant; (d) of a judge, a judgment: stern, strict; (e) of abstinence: rigid, strictly observed.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2777 : Brennes þe riche..mid starkere fore ferde to-ward Rome.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5439 : Næs nan biscop, næs nan clærk, ne cniht neore he swa sterc..þat he nes anan fordon.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)9310 : Þis iherde Vther, þe king wes swiðe steorc.
- a1250 Mon may longe (Mdst A.13)11 : Ne mai strong ne starch ne kene a-ȝlye deth-is wiþer-clench.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)608 : Þis ure eir..shal ben king, strong and stark.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2027 : He weren..Starke laddes, stalworþi men.
- a1350 Nou skrynkeþ (Hrl 2253)4 : Ne is no quene so stark ne stour..þat ded ne shal by glyde.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)3351 : Þe Ascopard be strong & sterk, Mani hondes makeþ liȝt werk.
- c1330 SMChron.(Auch)717 : King hingist made..A gret meruaile in þe west cuntre Wiþ messangers strak & strong.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1458 : I feele my lymes stark and suffisaunt To do al that a man bilongeth to.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4987 : Ely sones were stoute and stark And were chose to bere Goddys ark.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6840 : He was bysshope and patryarke Of Constatyne, noble, starke.
- a1400 ME Verse in Anglia 92p.61 : Boȝen ȝe feble and ȝe starke, alle he schulen cumen to dedes marke.
- a1400 SMChron.(Add 19677)430 : Com þe kyng of Denemarch With his ost sturne & starch.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5518 : Jch wil þee ȝiue of golde a mark, And a stede stronge and stark.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)20 : Many a Sarsyn stout and stark Weorred on him.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)14314 : Cador & Cassibolon, doughti men & stark..les þer lyf.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)3587 : He had a grete felowrede, A Ml. knightes, sterk and stoute.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)545 : This egle..up wente, Me caryinge in his clawes starke.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)368 : He ys a goode starke laburrer.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1596 : Ȝiff þin heorrte iss harrd & starrc, & stedefasst o Criste..Þa lakesst tu þin Drihhtin.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)13340 : Te nu forrþwarrd birrþ ben..starrc onnȝæn þe laþe gast..To ȝemenn all Crisstene follc.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)11816 : Strong mon wes Frolle and sterc mon on mode.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)36/18 : Ah þeo..stealewurðe beoð & sterke toȝein me.
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)9879 : Hæþenn follkess herrte Iss harrd & starrc all allse stan.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)5 : Ne beo þu þereuore prud ne wilde ne sterc.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2527 : Ah leoue sune Brennes, bei þi starke þonc, leie a-dun þin hære-scrud.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4587 : Wiðer..wes swiðe sturne & stærc wið þeon folke.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5982 : Nes næuere na mon iboren..þat hæleð weore swa stærc ne swa hærdiheorted.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1176 : Þe hule..ȝef ondsware starke & stronge.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23275 : Þaa men þat sa starck war her..sal haue euer þat water cald [in hell].
- a1400 Cato(3) (Frf 14)33 : If richesse come þe rife..be noȝt starke to freindis.
- c1440 Maidstone PPs.(Mrg M 99:Day)p.43 : Crist ihesu..was nothur stake [read: starke] ne stef, But ever was lonly.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.1631 : He had woman..To be his helper..And not his maister, stowte and sterke.
- c1475 Little Child.Bk.(1) (Eg 1995)51 : Speke noo worde stylle ne sterke.
d
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)126/1 : Þenne beoð alle igæderæde, þe soðfæste & þa synfullæ, ætforen þæs strecen demen heahsetle.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1472 : Þe rihhte dom iss starrc & harrd.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3810 : Þeȝȝ sinndenn..Well swiþe sare offdredde, Off domess daȝess starrke dom.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)76/6 : Eahte þinges nomeliche leaðieð us to wakien..deað þet we beoð siker of..þet sterke dom of domesdei, [etc.].
e
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)118/30 : Heo axoden hwu he mihte swa stearca forhæfdnysse forberen.
3.
(a) Of natural forces, fire, etc.: powerful, violent, fierce; intense, severe; of an odor: strong, foul; (b) of fighting, quarreling, etc.: fierce, violent, cruel; of a blow: hard, heavy; of a poison: potent; (c) of the world, a wound, an obligation, a loan: cruel, severe; of tidings: bad; (d) of a gift, a wonder, a lie: great; of a period of time: long; of a beggar, a coward: utter, complete.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)69/759 : Arisen stormes se sterke [Roy: starcke] & se stronge þet te bordes of þis bat bursten & to breken.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)20/33 : Al warð þet stude ful of strong & of stearc stench.
- a1250 Lofsong Louerde (Nero A.14)211 : Þeo sterke stremes and þet flod þet fleaw of þine wunden moncun uor to helen, clense and waschs mine sunfule soule.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)524 : Niȝtes..b[r]ingeþ forstes starke an stronge.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)760 : A fir was bet, stark an store.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.174 : Þe hungre was so grete & þe cold so stark þat a quarter whete was at tuenty mark.
- c1430 Chaucer CT.Pars.(Cmb Gg.4.27)I.841 : Auouteryis schuln been in helle in a stark brennynge fere of bronston.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)70 : Ouer wilde wawes he wende..Stroke [vr. Starke] stremes þrow yn [?read: þrowyn], stormes & wyndes.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)1766 : A fere stark and store Was lyȝt and brende bryȝt.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2014 : Sterce weren þe reæmes mid stronge raflake.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2081 : Þat fæht wes swuðe strong & swuðe stær [Otho: starc] & swuþe longe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8218 : Aurilie þe king & moni þusend..bigunnen þer oðer fæht þe wes feond-liche stærc.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)5 : Þat plait was stif & starc & strong.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3560 : She..helmed was in starke stoures And wan by force townes strong and toures.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3073 : He leid on Sarsyns al aboute strokes styþe and sterke.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3241 : Þe Assaut by-gan sterk & strait to be.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)1550 : Euery day when hit is nyȝt Þey bygynnen a stark fyȝt.
- c1450 Swarte smekyd (Arun 292)14 : Heuy hamerys þei han..Stark strokes þei stryken.
- a1500 Sidrak & B.in Parergon 5 (Trin-C O.5.6)f.4v (p.76) : Whanne thei ouercome were..Thei wenten anon forthe and fette Of starke venom a gobette.
c
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.VA (Lamb 487)105 : Þe fifte mihte..is gastliche blisse þet þe mon on god blissie bitwuxe þa sorinessen þissere sterke worlde.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)179/48 : With quareles and with Arewene heo maden him woundes starke.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8085 : He..borewede..an hondred þousend marc To wende wiþ to þe holy lond, & þat was somdel starc.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.21 : Tille Elfride oure kyng com tiþinges starke, þat fyue kynges..wer comen of Danmarke.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.98 : Henry þink it stark þat he is charged so To gyue þre þousand mark & bonden be þerto.
d
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1473 : Wundere me þungþ wel starc & stor Hu eni mon, [etc.].
- ?a1300 Sirith (Dgb 86)223 : Ich wille geue þe gift ful stark, Moni a pound and moni a marke.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7290 : Myght I felen..That ye perceyued it no thyng, Ye shulde have a stark lesyng.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)1188 : Þow hast lowen a stark [Auch: gret] lesyng.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)210/34 : Þat [restitution] þei will not do, for þan þei shuld make here wiff and here children starke beggers.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)161/31 : Be a knyght never so good..they woll make hym a starke cowerde.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)214 : Kay smote sonygrenx so that..he lay a starke while with-oute sterynge.
4.
(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem.2.147].
Associated quotations
a
- (1222) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames332 : Rannulf Stark.
- (1251) *in Pilkington Surn. : Galfridi Starkman.
- (1279) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames332 : William Starckeman.
- (1281) Hundred R.Tower 2674 : Radulphus le Starkere.
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 2151 : Nicholao Starke.
- (1313-17) Nickname in LuSE 55170 : Starkebayn.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3126 : Juliana Sterk.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3226 : Johannes le Sterk.
- (1379) Nickname in LuSE 55170 : Alicia fil. Starbayn.
- (1379) Nickname in LuSE 55170 : Margareta Starkbayndoghter.
- (1379) Nickname in LuSE 55170 : Thom. Starkbaynson.
b
- c1125(OE) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)73 : Stercanlei.
- (1156) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)65 : Sterchelai.
- (1164) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)65 : Starchelea.
- (1186) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)65 : Sterkeleg.
- (1249) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)73 : Sterkele.
- (1281) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)65 : Stercheslegh.
- (1316) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)65 : Sterkele.
- (1409) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)73 : Sterkle.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 42/10 : Grene starke leþere. Forto make grene stark leþere vpon harrowes as þe sadelers of London were wont forto vse..as for sadeles þat moste longe lasten.
Note: Additional quot., prob. sense 1.(b).