stern

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stern /st'ɜːrn/ (sterner sternest sterns)
1 [ADJ]
Stern words or actions are very severe.
Mr Straw issued a stern warning to those who persist in violence...
● sternly [ADV] ADV with v, ADV adj
`We will take the necessary steps,' she said sternly.
2 [ADJ]
Someone who is stern is very serious and strict.
Her father was stern and hard to please.
3 [N-COUNT]
The stern of a boat is the back part of it.
From stem to stern: see stem
≠ prow

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