Severeness

Severeness
Severe Se*vere", a. [Compar. {Severer}; superl. {Severest}.] [L. severus; perhaps akin to Gr. ??? awe, ??? revered, holy, solemn, Goth. swikns innocent, chaste: cf. F. s['e]v[`e]re. Cf. {Asseverate}, {Persevere}.] 1. Serious in feeling or manner; sedate; grave; austere; not light, lively, or cheerful. [1913 Webster]

Your looks alter, as your subject does, From kind to fierce, from wanton to severe. --Waller. [1913 Webster]

2. Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh; not mild or indulgent; rigorous; as, severe criticism; severe punishment. ``Custody severe.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Come! you are too severe a moraler. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Let your zeal, if it must be expressed in anger, be always more severe against thyself than against others. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

3. Rigidly methodical, or adherent to rule or principle; exactly conformed to a standard; not allowing or employing unneccessary ornament, amplification, etc.; strict; -- said of style, argument, etc. ``Restrained by reason and severe principles.'' --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

The Latin, a most severe and compendious language. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

4. Sharp; afflictive; distressing; violent; extreme; as, severe pain, anguish, fortune; severe cold. [1913 Webster]

5. Difficult to be endured; exact; critical; rigorous; as, a severe test. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Strict; grave; austere; stern; morose; rigid; exact; rigorous; hard; rough; harsh; censorious; tart; acrimonious; sarcastic; satirical; cutting; biting; keen; bitter; cruel. See {Strict}. [1913 Webster] -- {Se*vere"ly}, adv. -- {Se*vere"ness}, n. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • severeness — noun The property of being severe. Everyone was surprised by the severeness of the sentence the judge imposed …   Wiktionary

  • severeness — noun see severe …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • severeness — See severely. * * * …   Universalium

  • severeness — n. seriousness; acuteness; difficulty, rigorousness; simplicity, plainness; harshness, strictness …   English contemporary dictionary

  • severeness — se·vere·ness …   English syllables

  • severeness — noun 1. something hard to endure the asperity of northern winters • Syn: ↑asperity, ↑grimness, ↑hardship, ↑rigor, ↑rigour, ↑severity, ↑rigorousness, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • severity — noun 1. used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather (Freq. 2) • Syn: ↑badness, ↑severeness • Derivationally related forms: ↑bad (for: ↑severeness), ↑severe …   Useful english dictionary

  • rigorousness — noun 1. something hard to endure the asperity of northern winters • Syn: ↑asperity, ↑grimness, ↑hardship, ↑rigor, ↑rigour, ↑severity, ↑severeness, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • rigourousness — noun 1. something hard to endure the asperity of northern winters • Syn: ↑asperity, ↑grimness, ↑hardship, ↑rigor, ↑rigour, ↑severity, ↑severeness, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • badness — noun 1. that which is below standard or expectations as of ethics or decency (Freq. 8) take the bad with the good • Syn: ↑bad • Ant: ↑goodness, ↑good (for: ↑bad) …   Useful english dictionary

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