STARE

I. verb (~d; staring) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English starian; akin to Old High German starēn to ~, Greek stereos solid, Lithuanian starinti to stiffen Date: before 12th century intransitive verb to look fixedly often with wide-open eyes, to show oneself conspicuously , to stand on end ; bristle , transitive verb to have an effect on by staring, to look at with a searching or earnest gaze, ~r noun II. noun Date: 15th century the act or an instance of staring