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 stýra ‘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," störrig "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.
中文解释
1. *ster- / *star- "stiff, rigid" => stare.2. => look fixedly at, look at sb / sth stiffly or rigidly.3. *ster- / *star- "stiff, rigid" => stern.4. => severe, strict.5. steer => stern.6. => stern 'rear of a vessel, hind part of a ship' is etymologically "steering gear of a ship, the steering gear end of a ship".7. 记忆：谐音:死瞪。老板死死地瞪着员工，显得非常地严厉。
实用例句
1. He was a stern critic but an extremely kindly man.
他是个苛刻的批评家，但却是个非常善良的人。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The tug crossed our stern not fifty yards away.
拖船擦着我们的船尾开了过去，距离不到50码。
来自柯林斯例句
3. We remember our mother's stern instructions not to boast.
我们谨记母亲不许我们在人前炫耀的严厉教诲。
来自柯林斯例句
4. 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。
来自柯林斯例句
5. In showing contempt for the heavyweight championship Douglas offended a stern code.