To stare is to look at something or someone for a long time with wide, fixed eyes, often showing surprise, interest, or rudeness. It is more intense than just looking or glancing.
From Old English “starian” meaning “to stare, gaze,” from Proto-Germanic *“starōn,” related to a root meaning “rigid, stiff.” The idea is of eyes fixed and unmoving.
The root of ‘stare’ is about stiffness—your eyes almost freeze in place when you’re staring. That’s why it can feel uncomfortable; a stare is like a visual grip that doesn’t let go.
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