I. ˈstärk adjective
Etymology: Middle English, stiff, strong, from Old English stearc; akin to Old High German starc strong, Lithuanian starinti to stiffen — more at stare
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : rigid in or as if in death
b. : rigidly conforming (as to a pattern or doctrine) : absolute
stark discipline
2. archaic : strong , robust
3. : utter , sheer
stark nonsense
4.
a. : barren , desolate
b.
(1) : having few or no ornaments : bare
a stark white room
(2) : harsh , blunt
the stark realities of death
5. : sharply delineated
a stark contrast
• stark·ly adverb
• stark·ness noun
II. adverb
Date: 13th century
1. : in a stark manner
2. : to an absolute or complete degree : wholly
stark naked
stark mad