Gaze

v. i. [imp. & p. p. GAZED; p. pr. & vb. n. GAZING.] [Cf. Gr. ἀγάσσεσθαι, to be astonished, and A-S. gāsan, Goth. geisan, gaisjan, to smite, us-gaisjan, to terrify, us-geisnan, to be terrified. Cf. GEASON.] To fix the eyes in a steady and earnest look; to look with eagerness or curiosity, as in admiration, astonishment, or with studious attention. Why stand ye gazing up into heaven? Acts i. 11. Syn.—To gape; stare; look.—To gaze, gape, stare. To gaze is to look with fixed and prolonged attention, awakened by excited interest or elevated emotion; to gape is to look fixedly, with open mouth and feelings of ignorant wonder; to stare is to look with the fixedness of insolence or of idiocy. The lover of nature gazes with delight on the beauties of the landscape; the rustic gapes with wonder at the strange sights of a large city; the idiot stares on those around with a vacant looks. So checking his desire with trembling heart, Gazing he stood, nor would nor could depart. Dryden. Studying his looks and watching at the board, He gapes to catch the droppings of my lord. Pitt. But fixing on the maid his horrid eye, He stares and shakes, and finds it vain to fly. Dryden.