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Added 9 October 2026

sternly

/ˈstɝnli/ adverb

adverb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about sternly at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

With sternness; in a severe manner.
`No,' she said sternly

Origin

From Middle English sternly, sternely, sterneliche, sturnely, sturneliche, from Old English stirnlīċe, styrnlīċe, stiernlīċe (“harshly; severely; sternly”), equivalent to stern + -ly.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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