severe
    adj 1: intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or
           quality; "severe pain"; "a severe case of flu"; "a
           terrible cough"; "under wicked fire from the enemy's
           guns"; "a wicked cough" [syn: severe, terrible,
           wicked]
    2: very strong or vigorous; "strong winds"; "a hard left to the
       chin"; "a knockout punch"; "a severe blow" [syn: hard,
       knockout, severe]
    3: severely simple; "a stark interior" [syn: austere,
       severe, stark, stern]
    4: unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment; "a
       parent severe to the pitch of hostility"- H.G.Wells; "a hefty
       six-footer with a rather severe mien"; "a strict
       disciplinarian"; "a Spartan upbringing" [syn: severe,
       spartan]
    5: causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm; "a
       dangerous operation"; "a grave situation"; "a grave illness";
       "grievous bodily harm"; "a serious wound"; "a serious turn of
       events"; "a severe case of pneumonia"; "a life-threatening
       disease" [syn: dangerous, grave, grievous, serious,
       severe, life-threatening]
    6: very bad in degree or extent; "a severe worldwide
       depression"; "the house suffered severe damage"

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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