Middle English Dictionary Entry
starken v.
Entry Info
| Forms | starken v. Pl. starken, starket; p.pl. starked, straked. |
| Etymology | OE stearcian |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To become stiff, stiffen; ppl. starked as adj.: stiff; (b) of a storm: to grow strong.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Arun 220)p.149 : Les nerfs de bewor engurdisst [glossed:] starken [vr. swellin].
- a1400 Alle his frendes (Hrl 7322)6 : His eyen shullen dymmen, & his nese shal sharpen, & his skyn shal starken.
- a1400 Wonne þin eren (Hrl 7322)2 : Þin hew dunnet and þi sennewess starket.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)244 : The onweldy Ioyntes starked with rudenesse..To me of death han brought in the kalendes.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)388 : It [ointment]..Causith men starkid bonys to recur.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1845 : Þe stormes starked [Trin-C: straked] wit þe wind.