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stern1 definition

stern (stʉrn)

adjective

  1. hard; severe; unyielding; strict stern measures
  2. grim; forbidding a stern face
  3. relentless; inexorable stern reality
  4. unshakable; firm stern determination

Etymology: ME sterne < OE styrne < IE base *ster-, stiff, rigid > stare, starve

Related Forms:

stern2 definition

stern (stʉrn)

noun

  1. the rear end of a ship or boat
  2. the rear end of anything

Etymology: ME steorne, stern, rudder < ON stjorn, steering < styra, to steer

Stern definition

Stern (stʉrn)

  1. Stern, Isaac 1920-2001; U.S. violinist, born in Russia
  2. Stern, Otto 1888-1969; U.S. physicist, born in Germany

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms stern idiom

stern Synonyms

stern

modif.

rigid, austere, strict; see severe 1. See syn. study at severe.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

stern Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • trawler: The vessel is a 48 meter stern trawler with 15 persons on board.

Modifying Another Word

  • howard: Have the added analyst howard stern going his training.

Infinitive complement

  • bow: From stern to bow Back deck has gas locker for two bottles and 240V hook up point.

Used with adjective complement

  • look: Regardless of the artist, all the subjects seem to end up looking stern.

Preposition: in

  • council-chamber: Be stern in the council-chamber, so that you may control the situation.

Preposition: of

  • boat: Boat holders will be required to hold the stern of boats for the start of each race.
stern usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

stern quotes

If men could learn from history, what lessons it might teach us! But passion and party blind our eyes, and the light which experience gives is a lantern on the stern, which shines only on the waves behind us!

-Coleridge, Samuel Taylor

Kingly conclaves stern and cold, Where blood with guilt is bought and sold.

-Shelley, Percy Bysshe

What could have made her peaceful with a mind That nobleness made simple as a fire, With beauty like a tightened bow, a kind That is not natural in an age like this, Being high and solitary and most stern? Why, what could she have done, being what she is? Was there anotherTroy for her to burn?

-Yeats,W(illiam) B(utler)

stern quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"stern." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/stern>

APA Style

stern. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/stern

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