• n. 船尾；末端
• adj. 嚴厲的；堅定的
• n. (Stern)人名；(英、以、法、瑞典、西)斯特恩；(德、波、匈)施特恩

來自古英語 styrne,嚴厲的，嚴苛的，來自 Proto-Germanic*sternijaz,硬的，強硬的，來自 PIE*ster, 固定的，堅固的，僵硬的，詞源同 sterile,stark.

詞源同 steer,駕駛，操縱。因過去習慣在船尾駕駛船只，后引申詞義船尾。

stern

stern: English has two distinct words stern. The older, the adjective ‘severe’ [OE], comes from a prehistoric Germanic *sternjaz, which was probably derived from the base *ster-, *star- ‘be rigid’ (source also of English starch, stare, starve, etc). Stern ‘rear of a vessel’ [13] is etymologically the ‘steering’ end of a ship. The word was probably borrowed from Old Norse stjórn ‘steering’, a derivative of the same base as produced styra ‘steer’ (source of English steer).
=> starch, stare, starve, stereo, stork; steer

stern (adj.)

Old English styrne "severe, strict, grave, hard, cruel," from Proto-Germanic *sternijaz (cognates: Middle High German sterre, German starr "stiff," st?rrig "obstinate;" Gothic andstaurran "to be stiff;" Old Norse stara; Old English starian "to look or gaze upon"), from PIE root *ster- (1) "rigid, stiff" (see stereo-). Related: Sternly; sternness.

stern (n.)

early 13c., "hind part of a ship; steering gear of a ship," probably from a Scandinavian source, such as Old Norse stjorn "a steering," related to or derived from styra "to guide" (see steer (v.)). Or the word may come from Old Frisian stiarne "rudder," which also is related to steer (v.). Stern-wheeler as a type of steam-boat is from 1855, American English.

1. He was a stern critic but an extremely kindly man.

他是個苛刻的批評家，但卻是個非常善良的人。

來自柯林斯例句

2. The tug crossed our stern not fifty yards away.

拖船擦著我們的船尾開了過去，距離不到50碼。

來自柯林斯例句

3. We remember our mother's stern instructions not to boast.

我們謹記母親不許我們在人前炫耀的嚴厲教誨。

來自柯林斯例句

4. Mr Straw issued a stern warning to those who persist in violence.

斯特勞先生向那些堅持進行暴力活動的人發出了嚴正警告。

來自柯林斯例句

5. In showing contempt for the heavyweight championship Douglas offended a stern code.

道格拉斯藐視重量級拳王稱號的行為違背了嚴格的準則。

來自柯林斯例句