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severe

 

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  severe 
  adj  1:  intensely  or  extremely  bad  or  unpleasant  in  degree  or 
  quality;  "severe  pain";  "a  severe  case  of  flu";  "a 
  terrible  cough";  "under  wicked  fire  from  the  enemy's 
  guns";  "a  wicked  cough"  [syn:  {terrible},  {wicked}] 
  2:  very  strong  or  vigorous;  "strong  winds";  "a  hard  left  to  the 
  chin";  "a  knockout  punch";  "a  severe  blow"  [syn:  {hard},  {knockout}] 
  3:  severely  simple;  "a  stark  interior"  [syn:  {austere},  {stark}] 
  4:  unsparing  and  uncompromising  in  discipline  or  judgment;  "a 
  parent  severe  to  the  pitch  of  hostility"-  H.G.Wells;  "a 
  hefty  six-footer  with  a  rather  severe  mien";  "a  strict 
  disciplinarian";  "a  Spartan  upbringing"  [syn:  {spartan},  {strict}] 
  5:  causing  fear  or  anxiety  by  threatening  great  harm;  "a 
  dangerous  operation";  "a  grave  situation";  "a  grave 
  illness";  "grievous  bodily  harm";  "a  serious  wound";  "a 
  serious  turn  of  events";  "a  severe  case  of  pneumonia" 
  [syn:  {dangerous},  {grave},  {grievous},  {serious}] 
  6:  very  bad  in  degree  or  extent;  "a  severe  worldwide 
  depression";  "the  house  suffered  severe  damage"




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