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. Showing or expressing displeasure or disapproval; forbidding or harsh: a stern face; a stern voice.3. Firm or unyielding; uncompromising: stern resistance.4. Difficult to endure; oppressive: stern necessity.[Middle English sterne, from Old English styrne; see ster- in Indo-European roots.]stern?ly adv.stern?ness n.stern 2 (stûrn)n.1. Nautical The rear part of a ship or boat.2. A rear part or section.[Middle English sterne, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse stj?rn, rudder; see st?- in Indo-European roots.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.stern (st??n) adj1. showing uncompromising or inflexible resolve; firm, strict, or authoritarian2. lacking leniency or clemency; harsh or severe3. relentless; unyielding: the stern demands of parenthood. 4. having an austere or forbidding appearance or nature[Old English styrne; related to Old High German storn?n to alarm, Latin stern?x stubborn, Greek stereos hard] ?sternly adv ?sternness nstern (st??n) n1. (Nautical Terms) the rear or after part of a vessel, opposite the bow or stem2. the rear part of any object3. (Zoology) the tail of certain breeds of dog, such as the foxhound or beagleadjrelating to or located at the stern[C13: from Old Norse stj?rn steering; see steer1]Stern (st??n) n (Biography) Isaac. 1920?2001, US concert violinist, born in (what is now) UkraineCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014stern1 (st?rn) adj. -er, -est. 1. firm, strict, or uncompromising: stern discipline. 2. hard, harsh, or severe. 3. rigorous or austere; of an unpleasantly serious character: stern times. 4. grim or forbidding in aspect: a stern face. [before 1000; Middle English; Old English *stierne (in stiernl?ce adv.); compare West Saxon styrne] stern?ly, adv. stern?ness, n. syn: stern, severe, harsh mean strict or firm and can be applied to methods, aspects, manners, or facial expressions. stern implies uncompromising, inflexible firmness, and sometimes a forbidding aspect or nature: a stern parent. severe implies strictness and a tendency to discipline others: a severe judge. harsh suggests a great severity and roughness, and cruel, unfeeling treatment of others: a harsh critic. stern2 (st?rn) n. 1. the after part of a vessel (often opposed to stem). 2. the back or rear of anything. [1250?1300; Middle English sterne, probably