outstare

present singular third person outstares · participle present outstaring · participle past outstared · past outstared

1. transitiveTo stare at (someone) so hard or long that they look away.

   He held a tray but did not move from where he stood and managed, without any trace of emotion, to outstare Henry, who was standing in a group, half-listening to an anecdote.

   2004, Colm Toibin, The Master, paperback edition, Picador, page 44

   1 more example

   […]I would outstare the sternest eyes that look, Outbrave the heart most daring on earth, Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear, Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey, To win thee, lady.[…]

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]

   Synonyms: stare out