Hypertext Webster Gateway: "stern"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Stern \Stern\, a. [Compar. {Sterner}; superl. {Sternest}.] [OE.
sterne, sturne, AS. styrne; cf. D. stuurish stern, Sw. stursk
refractory. [root]166.]
Having a certain hardness or severity of nature, manner, or
aspect; hard; severe; rigid; rigorous; austere; fixed;
unchanging; unrelenting; hence, serious; resolute; harsh; as,
a sternresolve; a stern necessity; a stern heart; a stern
gaze; a stern decree.
The sterne wind so loud gan to rout. --Chaucer.
I would outstare the sternest eyes that look. --Shak.
When that the poor have cried, C[ae]sar hath wept;
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. --Shak.
Stern as tutors, and as uncles hard. --Dryden.
These barren rocks, your stern inheritance.
--Wordsworth.
Syn: Gloomy; sullen; forbidding; strict; unkind;
hard-hearted; unfeeling; cruel; pitiless.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Stern \Stern\, n. [AS. stearn a kind of bird. See {Starling}.]
(Zo["o]l.)
The black tern.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Stern \Stern\, n. [Icel. stj[=o]rn a steering, or a doubtful AS.
ste['o]rn. [root]166. See {Steer}, v. t.]
1. The helm or tiller of a vessel or boat; also, the rudder.
[Obs.] --Chaucer.
2. (Naut.) The after or rear end of a ship or other vessel,
or of a boat; the part opposite to the stem, or prow.
3. Fig.: The post of management or direction.
And sit chiefest stern of public weal. --Shak.
4. The hinder part of anything. --Spenser.
5. The tail of an animal; -- now used only of the tail of a
dog.
{By the stern}. (Naut.) See {By the head}, under {By}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Stern \Stern\, a.
Being in the stern, or being astern; as, the stern davits.
{Stern board} (Naut.), a going or falling astern; a loss of
way in making a tack; as, to make a stern board. See
{Board}, n., 8
(b) .
{Stern chase}. (Naut.)
(a) See under {Chase}, n.
(b) A stern chaser.
{Stern chaser} (Naut.), a cannon placed in a ship's stern,
pointing backward, and intended to annoy a ship that is in
pursuit.
{Stern fast} (Naut.), a rope used to confine the stern of a
ship or other vessel, as to a wharf or buoy.
{Stern frame} (Naut.), the framework of timber forms the
stern of a ship.
{Stern knee}. See {Sternson}.
{Stern port} (Naut.), a port, or opening, in the stern of a
ship.
{Stern sheets} (Naut.), that part of an open boat which is
between the stern and the aftmost seat of the rowers, --
usually furnished with seats for passengers.
{Stern wheel}, a paddle wheel attached to the stern of the
steamboat which it propels.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
stern
adj 1: of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in
aspect; "an austere expression"; "a stern face" [syn:
{austere}]
2: not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty;"grim
determination"; "grim necessity"; "Russia's final hour, it
seemed, approached with inexorable certainty"; "relentless
persecution"; "the stern demands of parenthood [syn: {grim},
{inexorable}, {relentless}, {unappeasable}, {unforgiving},
{unrelenting}]
3: severe and unremitting in making demands; "an exacting
instructor"; "a stern disciplinarian"; "strict standards"
[syn: {strict}, {exacting}]
4: (nautical) pertaining to the after part of a vessel [syn: {stern(a)}]
n 1: the rear part of a ship [syn: {after part}, {quarter}, {poop},
{tail}]
2: United States concert violinist (born in Russia in 1920)
[syn: {Stern}, {Isaac Stern}]
3: the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on [syn: {buttocks},
{nates}, {arse}, {butt}, {backside}, {bum}, {buns}, {can},
{fundament}, {hindquarters}, {hind end}, {keister}, {posterior},
{prat}, {rear}, {rear end}, {rump}, {seat}, {tail}, {tail
end}, {tooshie}, {tush}, {bottom}, {behind}, {derriere}, {fanny},
{ass}]
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