stare
stare
UK[steə(r)]US[ster]
v
to look at someone or something for a long time with your eyes wide open, especially when you are surprised, angry, or bored
n
a long, fixed look with your eyes wide open
Etymology
the verb 'stare' originates from the old english 'starian', meaning 'to gaze fixedly or intently'. this old english term is itself descended from the proto-germanic 'starēn-', which carries the same sense of a rigid, fixed gaze. this germanic root is further linked to the proto-indo-european base 'ster-', meaning 'rigid, stiff', a concept that aptly describes the unmoving quality of a stare. the semantic journey from the physical concept of stiffness to the intense, unmoving act of looking illustrates how a concrete attribute evolved into a specific, abstract visual behavior.
Analysis
the word is a simplex unit derived from old english 'starian'.
Examples
she stared at the letter in disbelief.
it's rude to stare at people.
he gave me a cold, hard stare.