Severe
Severe , adjective
[Latin severus; perhaps akin to Greek {not transcribed} awe, {not transcribed} revered, holy, solemn, Gothic swikns innocent, chaste: compare French sévère. Compare 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.
2.
Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh; not mild or indulgent; rigorous; as, severe criticism; severe punishment.
Custody severe.
Come! you are too severe a moraler.
Let your zeal, if it must be expressed in anger, be always more severe against thyself than against others.
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.
The Latin, a most severe and compendious language.
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.