stark

1. *ster- / *star- "stiff, rigid" => stare.
2. => look fixedly at, look at sb / sth stiffly or rigidly.
3. *ster- / *star- "stiff, rigid" => developed figurative sense "sterile, barren".
4. *ster- / *star- => stark.
5. => complete, absolutely; sterile, barren; stiff, rigid.
6. 荒凉的，光秃秃的，寸草不生的 => 简朴的，简陋的；质朴无华的；无掩饰的，一丝不挂的；明显的，突出的。
7. 史塔克家族: 临冬城的史塔克家族（House Stark of Winterfell）是美国作家乔治·R·R·马丁的长篇史诗奇幻小说系列《冰与火之歌》中虚构的一个显赫家族，是小说中北境之地的总领主，手下封臣众多。家族城堡为北境首府临冬城（Winterfell），族徽是白色雪原上的一只银灰色冰原狼，族语为“凛冬将至”（Winter is Coming）。史塔克族人的典型特征为长脸、灰眼睛、黑褐色头发和修长的体格，有时候“奔狼之血”（wolf blood）这个词语会被用来形容一些史塔克家族成员的奔放狂野的性格。

stark 僵硬的，荒凉的，光秃秃的，十足的，完全的

来自古英语 stearc,僵硬的，严厉的，严重的，粗糙的，残酷的，来自 Proto-Germanic*starkaz, 僵硬的，来自 PIE*ster,僵的，硬的，固定的，词源同 startle,sterile.引申诸相关词义。词义演 变比较 hard.

stark (adj.)

Old English stearc "stiff, strong, rigid, obstinate; stern, severe, hard; harsh, rough, violent," from Proto-Germanic *starkaz (cognates: Old Norse sterkr, Danish, Old Frisian sterk, Middle Dutch starc, Old High German starah, German stark, Gothic *starks), from PIE root *ster- (1) "stiff, rigid" (see stereo-). From the same root as stare (v.).

Meaning "utter, sheer, complete" first recorded c. 1400, perhaps from influence of common phrase stark dead (late 14c.), with stark mistaken as an intensive adjective. Sense of "bare, barren" is from 1833. As an adverb from c. 1200. Related: Starkly; starkness. Stark-raving (adj.) is from 1640s; earlier stark-staring 1530s.

1. Stark concrete walls have been softened by a show of fresh flowers.

鲜花摆上之后，突兀的混凝土墙便显得柔和起来。

2. UK companies face a stark choice if they want to stay competitive.

英国公司如果想要保持竞争力就不得不面对严峻的选择。

3. These issues have created a stark fault line within the Peace Process.

这些问题显然已成为了和平进程中的薄弱环节。

4. Shute's prose is stark and chillingly unsentimental.

舒特的散文平铺直叙，没有感情，让人感觉冷冰冰的。

5. All contestants competed stark naked.

所有参赛者都一丝不挂地参加比赛。