stern

¹

[sturn]

adjective

sterner, sternest 

1. firm, strict, or uncompromising.

   stern discipline.

   Synonyms: unfeeling, cruel, unsympathetic, unrelenting, adamant
   Antonyms: lenient

2. hard, harsh, or severe.

   a stern reprimand.

   Synonyms: unfeeling, cruel, unsympathetic, unrelenting, adamant

3. rigorous or austere; of an unpleasantly serious character.

   stern times.

4. grim or forbidding in aspect.

   a stern face.

stern

²

[sturn]

noun

1. the after or rear part of a vessel (often opposed to bow orstem ).

   The ship's stern was a glory of brightly painted carved figures of knights and mythical beasts.

2. the back or rear of anything.

3. Astronomy.,  Stern, the constellation Puppis.

4. Fox Hunting.,  the tail of a hound.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to be the person paddling, steering, working, etc., at the rear of (a vessel).

   When you're bird-watching, it's much better to be paddling up front than sterning the canoe.

2. to propel or steer (a vessel) with the after or rear part leading.

   We pulled up to the dock 15 minutes later and managed to stern in before dark.

Stern

³

[sturn]

noun

1. Isaac, 1920–2001, U.S. violinist, born in Russia.

2. Otto, 1888–1969, U.S. physicist, born in Germany: Nobel Prize 1943.

stern-

⁴

1. variant of sterno- before a vowel.

   sternite.

stern

¹

/ stɜːn /

adjective

1. showing uncompromising or inflexible resolve; firm, strict, or authoritarian

2. lacking leniency or clemency; harsh or severe

3. relentless; unyielding

   the stern demands of parenthood

4. having an austere or forbidding appearance or nature

stern

²

/ stɜːn /

noun

1. the rear or after part of a vessel, opposite the bow or stem

2. the rear part of any object

3. the tail of certain breeds of dog, such as the foxhound or beagle

adjective

1. relating to or located at the stern

Stern

³

/ stɜːn /

noun

1. Isaac. 1920–2001, US concert violinist, born in (what is now) Ukraine

Other Word Forms

• sternly adverb
• sternness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of stern¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English styrne

Origin of stern²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English sterne, probably from Old Norse stjōrn “steering” ( sternpost )

Word History and Origins

Origin of stern¹

Old English styrne; related to Old High German stornēn to alarm, Latin sternāx stubborn, Greek stereos hard

Origin of stern²

C13: from Old Norse stjōrn steering; see _steer ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see from soup to nuts (stem to stern).

Synonym Study

Stern, severe, harsh agree in referring to methods, aspects, manners, or facial expressions. Stern implies uncompromising, inflexible firmness, and sometimes a hard, forbidding, or withdrawn aspect or nature: a stern parent. Severe implies strictness, lack of sympathy, and a tendency to impose a hard discipline on others: a severe judge. Harsh suggests a great severity and roughness, and cruel, unfeeling treatment of others: a harsh critic.

Example Sentences

She’s adopted a motherly expression—stern eyes, tight lips, and a disapproving frown.

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The sight of a stern judge demanding a book from him had been the stuff of his nightmares since childhood.

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Even the sternest teachers and the brash older girls with whom you hardly dared to speak smiled at you in a special, knowing way your whole birthday long.

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She gave a cursory glance to the children—and then a second, far sterner look.

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The thought of her kind but stern headmistress made Penelope stand up a little straighter herself.

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Related Words

• flinty 
• grim 
• hard-nosed 
• harsh 
• rigid 
• steely 
• strict 
• tough