Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
sever
several
severalfold
severally
severalty
severance
severance pay
severance tax
severe
severity
Severn
Seveso
seviche
Seville
Seville orange
Sèvres
sew
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "severe" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

severe

se·vere [ sə vr ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
1. harsh: very harsh or strict
a severe punishment

2. dangerous: extremely bad or dangerous
severe injuries

3. stern: looking stern or serious

4. extremely unpleasant: causing great discomfort by being extreme
a severe frost

5. difficult: difficult to do or endure
severe hardship

6. exacting: having standards or other criteria that are difficult to meet
a severe test

7. plain: plain or austere in style, with little or no decoration
severe clothing

[Mid-16th century. < Latin severus "serious"]

se·vere·ly adverb
se·vere·ness noun
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft