1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier iv. i. 167 Braue Romaine Soldiers, sterne-borne sons of Mars.
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer II. viii. 563 He sung the Greeks stern-issuing from the steed.
1825 J. Neal I. 151 Six evangelical, stern-looking men.
1837 T. Carlyle II. vi. iii. 379 They roll through the streets, with stern-sounding music.