每日单词：stern

stern

[STERN]

英 [stɜːn] 美 [stɜːrn]

adj.严厉的；严峻的；苛刻的；坚决的n.尾部；船尾

◉词源

Stern（严厉的）约13世纪进入英语，源自古英语 styrne（严厉的、坚定的）。作为名词“船尾”约13世纪出现，源自古挪威语 stjorn（船尾、方向舵）。演变过程：形容词义从“坚定、严厉”直接保留至今；名词义则保留航海术语中的“船尾”用法。两者虽同形，但来源不同。形容词义词根 styrn-（古英语，意为“严厉”）；名词义词根 stjorn-（古挪威语，意为“方向、船尾”）

◉外刊例句

① The New York Times, 2015:

He was a stern but fair teacher who demanded excellence from his students.

他是一位严厉但公正的老师，要求学生追求卓越。

② The Guardian, 2023:

The captain stood at the stern of the ship, looking out to sea.

船长站在船尾，眺望大海。

◉ Usage Examples

(1) He received a stern rebuke from his superior.

(2) She had a stern father who never praised her.

(3) The teacher's stern look reduced him to silence.

(4) He came close to the painter and looked steadfastly into his stern eyes.

(5) The Central Committee has waged a stern and continuous struggle against this deviation.

(6) Move your stern, I want to sit down.

(7) She seated herself in the stern.

(8) The liner has been refitted from stem to stern.

(1) 他受到上司的严厉斥责。

(2) 她父亲很严厉，他从来没有表扬过她。

(3) 教师神情严肃，他便静了下来。

(4) 他走近画家,并且死死地盯着他那目光严峻的眼睛。

(5) 党中央对于这种偏向，进行了不断的坚决的斗争。

(6) 你把屁股挪一挪，我想坐下。

(7) 她坐进了船尾。

(8) 那艘班轮已经全面整修。

◉ Usage Notes

You know when you've done something really wrong, and the person who gets you in trouble has that unforgiving look on his face? The best word for that look is stern, meaning "strict" or "severe."

Stern, strict, severe, harsh, unforgiving — they all more or less mean the same thing, which is very tough and exacting, with a little helping of seriousness thrown in for good measure. What does this have to do with the stern of a boat, also known as the rear area? Um, nothing? But it's good to know about that meaning too, since it could come in handy some day when you're giving directions on a ship.

◉柯林斯词典

1. [ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词](话语或行动)严厉的，严正的 Stern words or actions are very severe.

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

斯特劳先生向那些坚持进行暴力活动的人发出了严正警告。

He said stern measures would be taken against the killers...

他说将严惩凶手。

Michael gave the dog a stern look.

迈克尔狠狠瞪了那只狗一眼。

sternly

'We will take the necessary steps,' she said sternly.

“我们将采取必要措施，”她厉声说道。

2. [ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词](人)严厉的，严格的，苛刻的 Someone who is stern is very serious and strict.

Her father was stern and hard to please.

她父亲很苛刻，让他满意很难。

3. [N-COUNT 可数名词]船尾；艉部 from stem to stern The stern of a boat is the back part of it. →see: stem；

4. [PHRASE 短语](人)性格坚强的，坚忍的 If you say that someone is made of sterner stuff, you mean that they have a strong personality and are capable of overcoming difficulties and problems.

Whoever this woman is, she's made of sterner stuff than I am.

不管这个女人是谁，她都比我坚强。