stare (v.)
Old English starian "to stare, gaze, look fixedly at," from Proto-Germanic *staren "be rigid" (source also of Old Norse stara, Middle Low German and Middle Dutch staren, Old High German staren, German starren "to stare at;" German starren "to stiffen," starr "stiff;" Old Norse storr "proud;" Old High German storren "to stand out, project;" Gothic andstaurran "to be obstinate"), from PIE root *ster- (1) "stiff."
Not originally implying rudeness. To stare (someone) down is from 1848. Related: Stared; staring.
stare (n.1)
late 14c., "power of sight," from stare (v.). From c. 1700 as "a fixed gaze."
stare (n.2)
"starling," from Old English (see starling).
updated on October 19, 2017
Dictionary entries near stare
starboard
starch
starchy
stardom
stardust
stare
stare decisis
starfish
star-fruit
star-gazer
stark
