severe
pronunciation
How to pronounce severe in British English:
UK [sɪˈvɪə(r)]
How to pronounce severe in American English:
US [sɪˈvɪr]
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- Adjective:
- intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
- very strong or vigorous
- severely simple
- unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment
- causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm
- very bad in degree or extent
Word Origin
- severe
- severe: [16] Severe is a descendant, via Old French severe, of Latin sevērus, a word of uncertain origin. English asseveration ‘firm declaration’ [16] comes from its Latin derivative asseverāre ‘assert earnestly’.=> asseveration
- severe (adj.)
- 1540s, from Middle French severe (12c., Modern French sévère) or directly from Latin severus "serious, grave, strict, austere" (see severity). From 1660s with reference to styles or tastes; from 1725 of diseases.
Example
- 1. But the global consequences could be severe .
- 2. But the negative social and economic impact remains severe .
- 3. This recession has been particularly severe .
- 4. Eg. we should inflict severe chastisement on criminals .
- 5. But the shaking didn 't stop and the swaying grew more severe .