stern

sévère, strict

Très sérieux et exigeant, surtout quand on dit aux autres comment ils doivent se comporter.

En anglais simple : Very serious and strict, especially when telling people how they must behave.

• Our teacher is stern.
• She gave the children a stern warning.
• His father spoke in a stern voice when he broke the rules.

Comment l'utiliser : stern with someone (The teacher was stern with students who arrived late.)

Synonymes : strict, severe, firm

Contraires : lenient, gentle

Expressions courantes : stern teacher, stern warning, stern voice, stern look

austère, sévère

D’apparence très sérieuse ou peu accueillante, au point de décourager les autres de s’approcher.

En anglais simple : Looking very serious or unfriendly, so that people may feel afraid to approach.

• His face looked stern.
• Her stern expression softened when she saw the baby.
• The portrait showed a man with stern features and dark eyes.

Synonymes : grim, forbidding, severe

Contraires : friendly, welcoming

Expressions courantes : stern face, stern expression, stern features

poupe

Partie arrière d’un bateau ou d’un navire.

En anglais simple : The back part of a boat or ship.

• She stood at the stern.
• Water splashed over the stern of our boat.
• Both ships had wooden sterns.

Comment l'utiliser : stern of something (A flag flew at the stern of the boat.)

Synonymes : aft, poop

Contraires : bow

Expressions courantes : the stern, at the stern, stern of something