— starkly , adv. — starkness , n.
/stahrk/ , adj., starker, starkest , adv.
adj.
1. sheer, utter, downright, or complete: stark madness.
2. harsh, grim, or desolate, as a view, place, etc.: a stark landscape.
3. extremely simple or severe: a stark interior.
4. bluntly or sternly plain; not softened or glamorized: the stark reality of the schedule's deadline.
5. stiff or rigid in substance, muscles, etc.
6. rigid in death.
7. Archaic. strong; powerful; massive or robust.
adv.
8. utterly, absolutely, or quite: stark mad.
9. Chiefly Scot. and North Eng. in a stark manner; stoutly or vigorously.
[ bef. 900; (adj.) ME; OE stearc stiff, firm; c. G stark strong; akin to ON sterkr strong; akin to STARCH, STARE; (adv.) ME sterke, deriv. of the adj. ]
Syn. 2, 3. See austere, bare .