(n.) The quality or state of being stern.

Spartanism abbreviation acerbity acidity acidulousness acridity acridness acrimony asperity astriction astringence austerity authoritarianism bite bitingness bitter pill bitterness bottleneck causticity cervix circumscription coarctation compactedness compaction compression compressure concentration condensation consolidation constriction constringency contraction contracture curtailment cuttingness decrease demandingness diminuendo discipline edge exactingness fierceness gall gall and wormwood grimness grip hardness harshness hourglass hourglass figure inclemency isthmus keenness knitting meticulousness mordacity mordancy narrow place narrowing neck piquancy poignancy point puckering pungency pursing reduction regimentation rigid discipline rigor roughness ruggedness severity sharpness shortening solidification sourness sternness sting stranglement strangulation striction strictness stricture stridency stringency systole tartness teeth toughness trenchancy ungentleness vehemence violence virulence wasp waist wrinkling