Sternness

Stern  (stûrn), Isaac Born 1920.

Russian-born American violinist who is considered among the great 20th-century virtuosos.

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stern ¹  (stûrn)

adj. stern·er, stern·est

1. Hard, harsh, or severe in manner or character: a stern disciplinarian. See Synonyms at severe.

2. Grim, gloomy, or forbidding in appearance or outlook.

3. Firm or unyielding; uncompromising.

4. Inexorable; relentless: stern necessity.

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[Middle English sterne, from Old English styrne; see ster-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

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sternly adv.

sternness n.

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stern ²  (stûrn)

n.

1. Nautical The rear part of a ship or boat.

2. A rear part or section.

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[Middle English sterne, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse stjrn, rudder; see st- in Indo-European roots.]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	sternness - the quality (as of scenery) being grim and gloomy and forbidding; "the sternness of his surroundings made him uncomfortable" asperity, rigor, rigorousness, rigourousness, severeness, severity, rigour, grimness, hardship - something hard to endure; "the asperity of northern winters"
	2.	sternness - uncompromising resolution strictness unpermissiveness, restrictiveness - a lack of permissiveness or indulgence and a tendency to confine behavior within certain specified limits Puritanism - strictness and austerity in conduct and religion inclemency, rigourousness, rigorousness, rigour, rigor, harshness, severeness, severity, stiffness, hardness - excessive sternness; "severity of character"; "the harshness of his punishment was inhuman"; "the rigors of boot camp"