stern English · revision 14970
17 Oct 2026, 13:52 by bogdan “en10k b0422: hostage … stern” current version
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+ Stern, severe, is a native word; stern, the back of a ship, probably came from Old Norse.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: UK /stɜːn/, US /stɝːn/^(Roach et al. 2011)
+
+ {{homograph|1|severe}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1000|origins=ine-pro *ster-}}
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ The adjective is [[inh|enm|sterne]], [[inh|ang|styrne|t=severe, harsh, strict]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*sternijaz]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) related to [[m|ang|starian|t=to stare]] (see [[stare]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*ster-|t=stiff]].^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Severe, harsh, grave: before 1000.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ Middle English sterne is from about 1250, in The Owl and the Nightingale.^(Barnhart 1988) Rigorous in morals, and grim in looks, are from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and expressing displeasure from the 14th.^(Hoad 1986) Middle English also used it for bold or valiant, and of desolate places or potent medicines.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * before 1000 – severe.^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * c. 1250 – sterne.^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * late 14th century – grim, forbidding.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Adjective===
+ # Strict, firm or authoritarian.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # Harsh or severe; without leniency.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # Grim or forbidding in appearance.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # Relentless; unyielding.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[sternly]]
+ * [[sternness]]
+
+ {{homograph|2|back of a ship}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1225}}
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ The back of a ship is [[inh|enm|sterne]], probably [[bor|non|stjórn|t=steering]], related to [[m|non|stýra|t=to steer]] (see [[steer]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) It may instead have come through [[ofs|stiārne|t=rudder]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The back part of a ship: probably about 1225, in King Horn, in Barnhart; the early 13th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The steering gear itself, the rudder and helm, is from the 14th century.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) Figuratively, that which guides affairs is from 1577.^(OED 1989) Colloquially, the rear of an animal or person is from the 1570s.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The stern-wheel is from 1816, and the American stern-wheeler from 1855.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 1225 – the back of a ship.^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * 14th century – the steering gear.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1570s – the buttocks.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1855 – stern-wheeler (US).^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # The rear part of a ship or boat.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # Any rear part.^(AHD)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[sternpost]]
+ * [[stern-wheeler]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[stare]]
+ * [[steer]]
+ * [[starboard]]
+
+ ==Usage notes==
+ Two old words are spelled stern: a sea bird, the tern (about 800), and a northern and Scots word for a star, from [[non|stjarna]].^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}