sternity

English

Etymology

From stern +‎ -ity.

Noun

sternity (uncountable)

1. (rare) The quality of being stern.
   • 1938, Patrick Kavanagh, The Green Fool, page 98:

     Jemmy eyed him but his sternity rotted to foolishness in his stare.

   • 1962, R. L. Tewari, A Critical Study of Loyalties (Galsworthy), Mussoorie: Saraswati Sadan, page 31:

     His attitude is that of compassion combind with sternity.

   • 1978 June 18, Victor Lipman, “A new alternative: basic education”, in New England (Boston Sunday Globe), page 36:

     It is, for lack of a better tag, a public school with a lot of “sternity.”

   • 2016, Martin Janello, “Defense and Pretense”, in Shine Knowing Shame: Philosophical Quotes & Poems, Palioxis Publishing, →ISBN:

     wondering what’s wrong / with all these people / how can they live with their sternity

Synonyms

• sternness