Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Severe
Se-vere′
,Adj.
[
Com
par.
Severer
; sup
erl.
Severest
.] [L.
severus
; perhaps akin to Gr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK] awe, [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK] revered, holy, solemn, Goth. swikns
innocent, chaste: cf. F. sévère
. Cf. Asseverate
, Persevere
.] 1.
Serious in feeling or manner; sedate; grave; austere; not light, lively, or cheerful.
Your looks alter, as your subject does,
From kind to fierce, from wanton to
From kind to fierce, from wanton to
severe
. Waller.
2.
Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh; not mild or indulgent; rigorous;
“Custody severe.” as,
. severe
criticism; severe
punishmentMilton.
Come! you are too
severe
a moraler. Shakespeare
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
cold5.
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
, Noun.
Webster 1828 Edition
Severe
SEVE'RE
,Adj.
1. Rigid; harsh; not mild or indulgent; as severe words; severe treatment; severe wrath.
2. Sharp; hard rigorous.
Let your zeal-be more severe against thyself than against others. Taylor.
3. Very strict; or sometimes perhaps, unreasonably strict or exact; giving no indulgence to faults or errors; as severe government; severe criticism.
4. Rigorous, perhaps cruel; as severe punishment; severe justice.
5. Grave; sober; sedate to an extreme; opposed to cheerful, gay, light, lively.
Your looks must alter, as your subject does,
From kind to fierce, from wanton to severe. Waller.
6. Rigidly exact; strictly methodical; not lax or airy. I will not venture on on so nice a subject with my severe style.
7. Sharp; afflictive; distressing; violent; as severe pain, anguish, torture, &c.
8. Sharp; biting; extreme; as severe cold.
9. Close; concise; not luxuriant.
The Latin, a most severe and compendious language- Dryden.
10. Exact; critical; nice; as a sever test.