Se*vere" (?), a. [Compar. Severer (?); superl. Severest.] [L. severus; perhaps akin to Gr. awe, revered, holy, solemn, Goth. swikns innocent, chaste: cf. F. s'evere. 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.

 

© Webster 1913.

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