Category:Severity

Se*ver"i*ty, n.; pl. Severities. Etym: [l. severitas: cf. F. Sévérité.]

Defn: the quality or state of being severe. Specifically: -- (a) gravity or austerity; extreme strictness; rigor; harshness; as, The severity of a reprimand or a reproof; severity of discipline or Government; severity of penalties. "strict age, and sour severity." Milton. (b) the quality or power of distressing or paining; extreme degree; Extremity; intensity; inclemency; as, the severity of pain or Anguish; the severity of cold or heat; the severity of the winter. (c) harshness; cruel treatment; sharpness of punishment; as, severity Practiced on prisoners of war. (d) exactness; rigorousness; strictness; as, the severity of a test. Confining myself to the severity of truth. Dryden.