sternness en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree English stern Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English sternness From stern + -ness.
Meanings
-
(uncountable) The state or quality of being stern.
There was the sternness of an old-fashioned Tour patron in his rebuke to the young Frenchman Pierre Rolland, the only one to ride away from the peloton and seize the opportunity for a lone attack before being absorbed back into the bunch, where he was received with coolness.
2012 July 15, Richard Williams, Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track, Guardian Unlimited:
- (countable) The result or product of being stern.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| sternnesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (5)
de Gestrengigkeit (state or quality of being stern) · de Strenge (state or quality of being stern) · de Härte (state or quality of being stern) · de Ernst (state or quality of being stern) · de Strengheit (state or quality of being stern)