Webster's English Dictionary

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stern

Cross references:
  1. severe                
 
1. stern \'st*rn\ \'st*rn-n*s\ aj [ME sterne, fr. OE styrne; akin to OE 
   starian to stare] 1a: having a definite hardness or severity of nature or 
   manner : AUST ERE 1b: expressive of severe displeasure : HARSH  2: 
   forbidding or gloomy in appearance  3: INEXORABLE {~ necessity}  4: STURDY, 
   STOUT {a ~ resolve}  - stern.ly av
2. stern n [ME, rudder, prob. of Scand origin; akin to ON stjo-rn act of 
   steering]; akin to OE sti-eran to steer - more at STEER 1: the rear end of 
   a boat  2: a hinder or rear part