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severity - 4 dictionary results
se⋅ver⋅i⋅ty
[suh-ver-i-tee] 
ɪ
–noun, plural -ties.
| 1. | harshness, sternness, or rigor: Their lives were marked by severity. |
| 2. | austere simplicity, as of style, manner, or taste: The severity of the decor was striking. |
| 3. | intensity or sharpness, as of cold or pain. |
| 4. | grievousness; hard or trying character or effect: The severity of his loss was finally becoming apparent. |
| 5. | rigid exactness or accuracy. |
| 6. | an instance of strict or severe behavior, punishment, etc. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To severity
| se·ver·i·ty (sə-věr'ĭ-tē) n. pl. se·ver·i·ties
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Severity
Se*ver"i*ty\, n.; pl. Severities. [L. severitas: cf. F. s['e]v['e]rit['e].] 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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : severity
Spanish:
severidad,
German:
die Strenge,
Japanese:
厳しさ
severity
1481, "austerity or strictness of life," from M.Fr. severite, from L. severitas, from severus "stern, strict, serious," possibly from *se vero "without kindness," from se "without" (see secret) + *vero "kindness," neuter ablative of verus "true" (see very). Meaning "strictness in dealing with others" is recorded from 1530. Severe is 1548, from M.Fr. severe, from L. severus.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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