What is "severeness"

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.

   Your looks alter, as your subject does, From kind to fierce, from wanton to severe.
   --Waller.

2. 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.

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 cold.

5. 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. [1913 Webster] -- Se*vere"ly, adv. -- Se*vere"ness, n.

n. The property of being severe.

n. extreme plainness [syn: austereness]