Sternest

These Tales are perhaps as open to that charge as any of his; and, moreover, not principally made up of that 'sternest' stuff which Byron celebrated as being most characteristic of him. ❋ Edward FitzGerald (1846)

Jol, while acknowledging this as his side's sternest test of the season to date, will rest some first-team players against Dnipro with Sunday's trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers in mind. ❋ Unknown (2011)

So I mentioned something to Gail about The Center, and she gave me the sternest look she could afford. ❋ W.F. Lantry (2011)

She was secretly kind of happy that Lucy liked reading so much that she wanted to keep at it, but she still spoke in her sternest, firmest, Mom-means-business voice. ❋ Ian James Corlett (2011)

He added with emphasis: “This operation was the sternest test that my heart could have.” ❋ David A. Nichols (2011)

Bahrain gave its sternest warning yet to Iran to keep out of its affairs, saying an escalation in the two countries' dispute over Bahrain's recent crackdown on political unrest could even lead to "conflict." ❋ Unknown (2011)

We are a nation and a people who have never shied from accepting the sternest challenges, and under my rule so shall we remain. ❋ Lucy Weston (2011)

The filly may very well be better than the 3-year-old colts this season, but she will have a tough trip and faces by far her sternest test to date. ❋ Unknown (2009)

She was two years his senior, and had long ranked as an old maid She had taught school, and was known by the young generation as the sternest disciplinarian in its experience. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Assange was told he would have to debate with one of his sternest critics. ❋ Padraig Reidy (2010)

Last week, Bahrain gave its sternest warning yet to Iran to keep out of its affairs, saying an escalation in the two countries' dispute over Bahrain's crackdown on political unrest could even lead to "conflict." ❋ Joe Parkinson (2011)

And even Eduard, whose personality is the sternest of the three, inspires a sense of collegiality that is unusual among the people who generally bear the brunt of his criticism. ❋ Lisa Abend (2011)

I could scarcely keep from laughing in his face, the whole thing was so ludicrous; but I managed to look my haughtiest, and sternest, and fiercest, while I superintended the deck-cleansing. ❋ Unknown (2010)

The judges all give him props for effort, especially Len, Kyle's sternest critic, who says, I'm not going to sack you. ❋ Lisa De Moraes (2010)

Many believed Hardy's sternest career test arrived the night he lost to St-Pierre, but I suspect he has far bigger challenges waiting just around the corner. ❋ Elliot Worsell (2011)

MANAMA—Bahrain gave its sternest warning yet to Iran to keep out of its affairs, saying an escalation in the two countries' dispute over Bahrain's recent crackdown on political unrest could even lead to "conflict." ❋ Alex Delmar-Morgan (2011)

He had been cadged for drinks before by the old cannibal, and the sternest tambo Grief and McTavish had laid down was the one forbidding alcohol to the natives of New Gibbon. ❋ Unknown (2010)