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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

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:
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(a) 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.
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(b) 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.
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(c) Harshness; cruel treatment; sharpness of punishment; as,
severity practiced on prisoners of war.
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(d) Exactness; rigorousness; strictness; as, the severity of
a test.
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Confining myself to the severity of truth.
--Dryden.
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