Category:Severe

Se*vere", a. [compar. Severer; superl. Severest.] Etym: [l. severus; Perhaps akin to gr. swikns innocent, chaste: cf. F. sévère. Cf. Asseverate, persevere.]

1. Serious in feeeling or manner; sedate; grave; austere; not light, Lively, or cheerful. Your looks alter, as your subject does, from kind to fierce, from Wanton to severe. Waller.

2. Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh; not Mild or indulgent; rigorous; as, severe criticism; severe punishment. "custody severe." Milton. Come! You are too severe a moraler. Shak. Let your zeal, if it must be expressed in anger, be always more Severe against thyself than against others. Jer. Taylor.

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. The latin, a most severe and compendious language. Dryden.

4. Sharp; afflictive; distressing; violent; extreme; as, severe pain, Anguish, fortune; severe cold.

5. Difficult to be endured; exact; critical; rigorous; as, a severe Test.

Syn. -- strict; grave; austere; stern; morose; rigid; exact; rigorous; Hard; rough; harsh; censorious; tart; acrimonious; sarcastic; Satirical; cutting; biting; keen; bitter; cruel. See strict. -- se*vere"ly, adv. -- se*vere"ness, n.