severity

noun

The state or quality of being severe.

noun

The act or an instance of severe behavior, especially punishment.

noun

The character or state of being severe.

noun

Extreme rigor; strictness; rigidity; harshness.

noun

Harshness; cruel treatment; sharpness of punishment: as, severity practised on prisoners of war.

noun

In lit., art, etc., the quality of strict conformity to an ideal rule or standard; studied moderation; freedom from all exuberance or florid ornament; purity of line and form; austerity of style.

noun

The quality or power of afflicting, distressing, or paining; extreme degree; extremity; keenness: as, the severity of pain or anguish; the severity of cold or heat; the severity of the winter.

noun

Exactness; rigor; niceness: as, the severity of a test.

noun

Strictness; rigid accuracy.

noun

Synonyms and Asperity, Harshness, etc. (see acrimony), unkindness.—, , and Sharpness, keenness, force. See list under harshness.