sternness

English

Etymology

stern +‎ -ness

Noun

sternness (countable and uncountable, plural sternnesses)

1. (uncountable) The state or quality of being stern.
   • 2012, July 15. Richard Williams in Guardian Unlimited, Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track

     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.

2. (countable) The result or product of being stern.

Translations

state or quality of being stern

• German: Strenge (de) f, Härte (de) f, Ernst (de) m, Strengheit f, Gestrengigkeit f (archaic)
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result or product of being stern

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