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severe
4 dictionary results for: severe
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
se·vere       [suh-veer] Pronunciation Key
–adjective, -ver·er, -ver·est.
1.harsh; unnecessarily extreme: severe criticism; severe laws.
2.serious or stern in manner or appearance: a severe face.
3.grave; critical: a severe illness.
4.rigidly restrained in style, taste, manner, etc.; simple, plain, or austere.
5.causing discomfort or distress by extreme character or conditions, as weather, cold, or heat; unpleasantly violent, as rain or wind, or a blow or shock.
6.difficult to endure, perform, fulfill, etc.: a severe test of his powers.
7.rigidly exact, accurate, or methodical: severe standards.

[Origin: 1540–50; < L sevérus, or back formation from severity]

se·vere·ly, adverb
se·vere·ness, noun

2. strict, hard. See stern1. 4. unadorned. 7. demanding, exacting.
1. lenient. 2. gentle.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
se·vere       (sə-vîr')  Pronunciation Key 
adj.   se·ver·er, se·ver·est
  1. Unsparing, harsh, or strict, as in treatment of others: a severe critic.
  2. Marked by or requiring strict adherence to rigorous standards or high principles: a severe code of behavior.
  3. Stern or forbidding, as in manner or appearance: spoke in a severe voice.
  4. Extremely plain in substance or style: a severe black dress.
  5. Causing great discomfort, damage, or distress: a severe pain; a severe storm.
  6. Very dangerous or harmful; grave or grievous: severe mental illness.
  7. Extremely difficult to perform or endure; trying: a severe test of our loyalty.


[Latin sevērus, serious, strict; see segh- in Indo-European roots.]

se·vere'ly adv., se·vere'ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean unsparing and exacting with respect to discipline or control. Severe implies adherence to rigorous standards or high principles and often suggests harshness: "Praise or blame has but a momentary effect on the man whose love of beauty in the abstract makes him a severe critic on his own works" (John Keats).
Stern suggests unyielding disposition, uncompromising resolution, or forbidding appearance or nature: "a man fatally stern and implacable" (George Meredith).
Austere connotes aloofness or lack of feeling or sympathy, and often rigid morality: Austere officers demand meticulous conformity with military regulations.
Ascetic suggests self-discipline and often renunciation of worldly pleasures for spiritual improvement: "Be systematically ascetic ... do ... something for no other reason than that you would rather not do it" (William James).
Strict means requiring or showing stringent observance of obligations, rules, or standards: "He could not be severe nor even passably strict" (W.H. Hudson).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
severe

adjective
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" 
2. very strong or vigorous; "strong winds"; "a hard left to the chin"; "a knockout punch"; "a severe blow" [syn: hard
3. severely simple; "a stark interior" [syn: austere
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" 
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"; "a life-threatening disease" [syn: dangerous
6. very bad in degree or extent; "a severe worldwide depression"; "the house suffered severe damage" 

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

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