From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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 feeling or manner; sedate; grave; austere; not
light, lively, or cheerful.
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Your looks alter, as your subject does,
From kind to fierce, from wanton to severe.
--Waller.
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2. Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh;
not mild or indulgent; rigorous; as, severe criticism;
severe punishment. "Custody severe." --Milton.
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Come! you are too severe a moraler. --Shak.
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Let your zeal, if it must be expressed in anger, be
always more severe against thyself than against
others. --Jer. Taylor.
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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.
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The Latin, a most severe and compendious language.
--Dryden.
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4. Sharp; afflictive; distressing; violent; extreme; as,
severe pain, anguish, fortune; severe cold.
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5. Difficult to be endured; exact; critical; rigorous; as, a
severe test.
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Syn: Strict; grave; austere; stern; morose; rigid; exact;
rigorous; hard; rough; harsh; censorious; tart;
acrimonious; sarcastic; satirical; cutting; biting;
keen; bitter; cruel. See {Strict}.
[1913 Webster] -- {Se*vere"ly}, adv. -- {Se*vere"ness},
n.
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