1. adj. severe, grim, strict; enforcing discipline or submission (a stern expression; stern treatment).
Phrases and idioms:
the sterner sex men.
Derivatives:
sternly adv. sternness n.
Etymology: OE styrne, prob. f. a Gmc root be rigid 2. n.1 the rear part of a ship or boat.
2 any rear part.
Phrases and idioms:
stern foremost moving backwards. stern on with the stern presented. stern-post the central upright support at the stern, usu. bearing the rudder.
Derivatives:
sterned adj. (also in comb.). sternmost adj. sternward adj. & adv. sternwards adv.
Etymology: ME prob. f. ON stj{oacute}rn steering f. st|ra STEER(1)