severe

Definitions

1. 1.Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh; not mild or indulgent; rigorous; as, severe criticism; severe punishment. "Custody severe." Milton. Come! you are too severe a moraler. Shak. Let your zeal, if it must be expressed in anger, be always more severe against thyself than against others. Jer. Taylor.
2. 2.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.
3. 3.Sharp; afflictive; distressing; violent; extreme; as, severe pain, anguish, fortune; severe cold.
4. 4.Difficult to be endured; exact; critical; rigorous; as, a severe test. See Strict. -- Se*vere"ly, adv. -- Se*vere"ness, n.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "severe" mean?
• What is another word for "severe"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is severe.

• What is sharp; afflictive; distressing; violent; extreme; as, severe pain, anguish, fortune; severe cold called?
• What is difficult to be endured; exact; critical; rigorous; as, a severe test. See Strict. -- Se*vere"ly, adv. -- Se*vere"ness, n called?