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severity
5 dictionary results for: severity
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
se·ver·i·ty       [suh-ver-i-tee] Pronunciation Key
–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.

[Origin: 1475–85; < L sevéritās, equiv. to sevér(us) severe + -itās -ity]
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
se·ver·i·ty       (sə-věr'ĭ-tē)  Pronunciation Key 
n.   pl. se·ver·i·ties
  1. The state or quality of being severe.
  2. The act or an instance of severe behavior, especially punishment.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
severity

noun
1. used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather [syn: badness
2. something hard to endure; "the asperity of northern winters" [syn: asperity
3. extreme plainness [syn: austereness
4. excessive sternness; "severity of character"; "the harshness of his punishment was inhuman"; "the rigors of boot camp" 

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

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.

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