Part 278

Sev"er*ance (?), n. 1. The act of severing, or the state of being severed; partition; separation. Milman.

2. (Law) The act of dividing; the singling or severing of two or more that join, or are joined, in one writ; the putting in several or separate pleas or answers by two or more disjointly; the destruction of the unity of interest in a joint estate. Bouvier.

Se*vere" (?), a. [Compar. Severer (?); superl. Severest.] [L. severus; perhaps akin to Gr. &?;&?;&?; awe, &?;&?;&?; revered, holy, solemn, Goth. swikns innocent, chaste: cf. F. sévère. Cf. Asseverate, Persevere.] 1. Serious in feeeling or manner; sedate; grave; austere; not light, lively, or cheerful.

Your looks alter, as your subject does, From kind to fierce, from wanton to severe.

Waller.

2. Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh; not mild or indulgent; rigorous; as, severe criticism; severe punishment. "Custody severe." Milton.

Come! you are too severe a moraler.

Shak.

Let your zeal, if it must be expressed in anger, be always more severe against thyself than against others.

Jer. Taylor.

3. Rigidly methodical, or adherent to rule or principle; exactly conformed to a standard; not allowing or employing unneccessary ornament, amplification, etc.; strict; -- said of style, argument, etc. "Restrained by reason and severe principles." Jer. Taylor.

The Latin, a most severe and compendious language.

Dryden.

4. Sharp; afflictive; distressing; violent; extreme; as, severe pain, anguish, fortune; severe cold.

5. Difficult to be endured; exact; critical; rigorous; as, a severe test.

Syn. -- Strict; grave; austere; stern; morose; rigid; exact; rigorous; hard; rough; harsh; censorious; tart; acrimonious; sarcastic; satirical; cutting; biting; keen; bitter; cruel. See Strict.

-- Se*vere"ly, adv. -- Se*vere"ness, n.

Se*ver"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Severities (#). [L. severitas: cf. F. sévérité.] The quality or state of being severe. Specifically: --

(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.

(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.

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

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

Confining myself to the severity of truth.

Dryden.

Sev"er*y (?), n. [Prob. corrupted fr. ciborium. Oxf. Gloss.] (Arch.) A bay or compartment of a vaulted ceiling. [Written also civery.]

Sev`o*ca"tion (?), n. [L. sevocare, sevocatum, to call aside.] A calling aside. [Obs.]

Sè"vres blue` (?). A very light blue.

Sè"vres ware` (?). Porcelain manufactured at Sèvres, France, ecpecially in the national factory situated there.