What is "severities"

Severity \Se*ver"i*ty\, n.; pl. Severities. [L. severitas: cf. F. s['e]v['e]rit['e].] The quality or state of being severe. Specifically:

1. Gravity or austerity; extreme strictness; rigor; harshness; as, the severity of a reprimand or a reproof; severity of discipline or government; severity of penalties. ``Strict age, and sour severity.''
   --Milton.

2. The quality or power of distressing or paining; extreme degree; extremity; intensity; inclemency; as, the severity of pain or anguish; the severity of cold or heat; the severity of the winter.

3. Harshness; cruel treatment; sharpness of punishment; as, severity practiced on prisoners of war.

4. Exactness; rigorousness; strictness; as, the severity of a test.

   Confining myself to the severity of truth.
   --Dryden.

n. (plural of severity English)