sternity
nounEtymology From stern + -ity.
1
Rare The quality of being stern.
- Jemmy eyed him but his sternity rotted to foolishness in his stare.1938, Patrick Kavanagh, The Green Fool, page 98:
- His attitude is that of compassion combind^([sic]) with sternity.1962, R. L. Tewari, A Critical Study of Loyalties (Galsworthy), Mussoorie: Saraswati Sadan, page 31:
2 more examples
- It is, for lack of a better tag, a public school with a lot of “sternity.”1978 June 18, Victor Lipman, “A new alternative: basic education”, in New England (Boston Sunday Globe), page 36:
- wondering what’s wrong / with all these people / how can they live with their sternity2016, Martin Janello, “Defense and Pretense”, in Shine Knowing Shame: Philosophical Quotes & Poems, Palioxis Publishing, →ISBN:
- Synonyms
- sternness