Completely stop becoming severe, it seems? (4,4,2,5)
I believe the answer is:
from stem to stern
'completely' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'stop becoming severe it seems?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'stop' could be 'stem' (stem can mean to stop or interrupt) and 'stem' is present in the answer.
'severe' could be 'stern' (I've seen this before) and 'stern' is present in the answer.
'it' could be 't' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis) and 't' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for from stem to stern that I've seen is " Throughout".)