1. (n.) The quality or state of being severe.

2. (n.) Gravity or austerity; extreme strictness; rigor; harshness; as, the severity of a reprimand or a reproof; severity of discipline or government; severity of penalties.

3. (n.) 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.

4. (n.) Harshness; cruel treatment; sharpness of punishment; as, severity practiced on prisoners of war.

5. (n.) Exactness; rigorousness; strictness; as, the severity of a test.

Spartan simplicity Spartanism abruptness absolute zero absoluteness abusiveness accuracy acerbity acidity acidulousness acridity acrimony acuteness aggressiveness algidity aloofness animality asceticism asperity astringency atrocity attention to fact austerity authoritarianism baldness barbarity bareness bearishness beastliness bite bitingness bitterness bleakness bloodlust bluntness boorishness brashness briskness brusqueness brusquerie brutality burdensomeness candor care for truth causticity chill chilliness churlishness cold coldness common speech cool coolness coolth correctness crispness crudeness cruelty crustiness cryogenics cryology curtness cuttingness decrease in temperature delicacy demandingness despotism destructiveness directness discipline edge elementarity exactingness exactitude exactness exigency extremity faithfulness fastidiousness faultlessness ferociousness ferocity fidelity fierceness fineness flawlessness flintiness force frankness freezing point freshness frigidity frostiness fundamentality furiousness fury gelidity gravity grievousness grimness grip gruffness hardness harshness homespun homogeneity household words iciness impetuosity inclemency inexorability inexorableness inflexibility inhumanity inornateness integrity intense cold intensity keenness leanness literalism literality literalness low temperature malignity mathematical precision matter-of-factness meanness mercilessness meticulousness mindlessness modesty monasticism monism mordacity mordancy murderousness nastiness naturalness niceness nicety nip nippiness obduracy obdurateness oneness onerousness openness oppression oppressiveness painfulness perfection piquancy pitilessness plain English plain speaking plain speech plain style plain words plainness poignancy point preciseness precision primitiveness prosaicness prosiness pungency punishment punitiveness purity rawness refinement regimentation relentlessness restrainedness right rightness rigid discipline rigidity rigor rigorousness roughness ruggedness rustic style ruthlessness savagery seriousness sharp air sharpness shortness simpleness simplicity singleness soberness solemnity sourness spareness sparseness starkness sternness sting storminess straightforwardness strictness stridency stringency subtlety surliness tartness teeth tempestuousness terrorism textualism the letter toughness trenchancy truculence tyranny unadorned style unadornedness unadulteration unaffectedness unelaborateness unfanciness unfussiness ungentleness uniformity unimaginativeness unity unmixedness unpoeticalness unsophistication vandalism vehemence venom vernacular viciousness violence virulence