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To walk slowly, gravely, or resolutely. Home the swain retreats, His flock before him stepping to the fold. Thomson.

; hard; severe; rigid; rigorous; austere; fixed; unchanging; unrelenting; hence, serious; resolute; harsh; as, a sternresolve; a stern necessity; a stern heart; a stern gaze; a stern decree. The sterne wind so loud gan to rout. Chaucer. I would outstare the sternest eyes that look. Shak. When that the poor have cried,…

Strong; lusty; vigorous; robust; sinewy; muscular; hence, firm; resolute; dauntless. With hearts stern and stout. Chaucer. A stouter champion never handled sword. Shak. He lost the character of a bold, stout, magnanimous man. Clarendon. The lords all stand To clear their cause, most resolutely stout. Daniel.…

Stout; mettlesome; resolute. [Scot.] Jamieson.

Foolishly obstinate or resolute; stubborn; unrelenting; unfeeling; stern. This sturdy marquis gan his hearte dress To rue upon her wifely steadfastness. Chaucer. This must be done, and I would fain see Mortal so sturdy as to gainsay. Hudibras. A sturdy, hardened sinner shall advance to the utmost pitch of impiety with…

Unyielding in will; not subject to persuasion or influence; inflexible; resolute; -- applied to persons.

Irresolute; inconsonant; variable; untrustworthy; as, an uncertain person; an uncertain breeze. O woman! in our hours of ease, Uncertain, coy, and hard to please! Sir W. Scott.

Vacillating; wavering; fluctuating; irresolute.

Inclined to vacillate; wavering; irresolute. Hawthorne.

me weak or weaker; to lose strength, spirit, or determination; to become less positive or resolute; as, the patient weakened; the witness weakened on cross-examination. "His notion weakens, his discernings are lethargied." Shak.