• (GA) enPR: stûrn, IPA: /stɝn/
• (RP) enPR: stûn, IPA: /stɜːn/

stern (comparative sterner, superlative sternest)

1. Having a hardness and severity of nature or manner.
   • 1593, [William Shakespeare], Venvs and Adonis, London: Imprinted by Richard Field, […], OCLC 837166078 ↗, [verse 17 ↗]; 2nd edition, London: Imprinted by Richard Field, […], 1594, OCLC 701755207 ↗, lines [97–100]:

     I haue beene wooed, as I intreat thee now, / Euen by the ſterne, and direfull God of warre, / VVhoſe sinewy#English|ſinowie necke in battel ne'er#English|nere did bow, / VVho conquers where he comes in euery jar#English|iarre; {{...}

   • stern as tutors, and as uncles hard

2. Grim and forbidding in appearance.

   • these barren rocks, your stern inheritance

• French: sévère
• German: streng, hart, bitter, unnachgiebig, ernst, unnachsichtig, gestreng (dated)
• Italian: austero, severo, duro, rigido
• Portuguese: severo, austero, rígido
• Russian: стро́гий
• Spanish: severo

• French: austère
• German: düster, unfreundlich, abweisend, abschreckend
• Italian: arcigno, inflessibile
• Russian: мра́чный

stern (plural sterns)

1. (nautical) The rear part or after end of a ship or vessel.
2. (figurative) The post of management or direction.
   • 1591, William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act I, scene i]:

     and sit chiefest stern of public weal

3. The hinder part of anything.
4. The tail of an animal; now used only of the tail of a dog.

• (of a ship) poop

• bow

• French: poupe, arrière
• German: Heck, Schiffshinterteil, Hinterschiff
• Italian: poppa
• Portuguese: popa
• Russian: корма́
• Spanish: popa

stern (plural sterns)

1. A bird, the black tern.

1. Surname