Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
noun
The property of being severe.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
excessive sternness
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: severity, harshness, rigor, rigour, rigorousness, rigourousness, inclemency, hardness, stiffness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: sternness, strictness
noun
extreme plainness
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: austereness, severity
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: plainness
noun
something hard to endure
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: asperity, grimness, hardship, rigor, rigour, severity, rigorousness, rigourousness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: difficulty, difficultness
Narrower terms: sternness
noun
used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: badness, severity
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: intensity, intensiveness
Narrower terms: foulness, raininess, seriousness, distressfulness
History
Etymology tree English severe Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English severeness From severe + -ness.
