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Webster 1913 Edition

Serious

Se′ri-ous

,
Adj.
[L.
serius
: cf. F.
sérieux
, LL.
seriosus
.]
1.
Grave in manner or disposition; earnest; thoughtful; solemn; not light, gay, or volatile.
He is always
serious
, yet there is about his manner a graceful ease.
Macaulay.
2.
Really intending what is said; being in earnest; not jesting or deceiving.
Beaconsfield.
3.
Important; weighty; not trifling; grave.
The holy Scriptures bring to our ears the most
serious
things in the world.
Young.
4.
Hence, giving rise to apprehension; attended with danger;
as, a
serious
injury
.
Syn. – Grave; solemn; earnest; sedate; important; weighty. See
Grave
.
–
Se′ri-ous-ly
,
adv.
–
Se′ri-ous-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition

Serious

SE'RIOUS

,
Adj.
[L. serius.]
1. Grave in manner or disposition; solemn; not light, gay or volatile; as a serious man; a serious habit or disposition.
2. Really intending what is said; being in earnest; not jesting or making false pretense. Are you serious, or in jest?
3. Important; weighty; not trijling.
The holy Sciptures bring to your ears the most serious things in the world. Young.

Definition 2024

serious

serious

English

Adjective

serious ‎(comparative seriouser or more serious, superlative seriousest or most serious)

  1. Without humor or expression of happiness; grave in manner or disposition; earnest; thoughtful; solemn.
    It was a surprise to see the captain, who had always seemed so serious, laugh so heartily.
  2. Important; weighty; not trifling; leaving no room for play; needing great attention; critical.
    This is a serious problem. We'll need our best experts.
  3. Really intending what is said; being in earnest; not jesting or deceiving; meaningful.
    After all these years, we're finally getting serious attention.

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:serious

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

External links

  • serious in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • serious in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: access · ways · grave · #952: serious · possession · move · foreign

Etymology

From Middle English seryows, from Old French serieux, from Medieval Latin sēriōsus, an extension of Latin sērius ‎(“grave, earnest, serious”), from Proto-Indo-European *swēr- ‎(“heavy”). Cognate with German schwer ‎(“heavy, difficult, severe”), Old English swǣr ‎(“heavy, grave, grievous”). More at swear, sweer.

Pronunciation

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