severe
severe
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling of "severe" is:
** /sɪˈvɪə(r)/ **
Here's a breakdown of the sounds:
sɪ: This syllable starts with the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/ (like the 's' in "sit"), followed by the short, lax vowel /ɪ/ (like the 'i' in "bit").
vɪə(r): This syllable begins with the voiced labiodental fricative /v/ (like the 'v' in "van"). It then has the same short, lax vowel /ɪ/ as the first syllable. This is followed by the diphthong /ə(r)/, which is a combination of the schwa /ə/ (like the 'a' in "about") and the alveolar approximant /r/. The /r/ is often pronounced in American English, but may be less pronounced or omitted in some British English accents.
Word Form Variations
"Severe" is an adjective, and adjectives in English don't have singular or plural forms like nouns do. However, "severe" does have comparative and superlative forms:
Severe: This is the standard form of the adjective.
Severer: This is the comparative form, used to compare two things. For example, "This winter was severer than last year's."
Severest: This is the superlative form, used to compare three or more things. For example, "That was the severest storm I've ever seen."
While not strictly word forms in the grammatical sense, you can also derive related words from "severe":
Severely (adverb): This describes the manner in which something is done. For example, "He was severely injured in the accident."
Severeness (noun): This refers to the quality of being severe. For example, "The severeness of the punishment surprised everyone."
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: (Of something bad or undesirable) very great; intense.
Synonyms: intense, extreme, serious, critical, acute, drastic, violent, fierce, harsh, rigorous, stringent
Antonyms: mild, moderate, slight, minor, insignificant, gentle, lenient
Definition 2: (Of a person) strict or harsh in manner or appearance; unrelentingly critical.
Synonyms: stern, austere, grim, harsh, authoritarian, strict, rigid, uncompromising, unforgiving
Antonyms: kind, gentle, lenient, merciful, forgiving, compassionate, tolerant, relaxed
Definition 3: (Of punishment or a judge) imposing or inflicting a harsh penalty.
Synonyms: harsh, punitive, draconian, stringent, merciless, ruthless
Antonyms: lenient, merciful, compassionate, forgiving
Definition 4: (Of a disease or its symptoms) very bad or serious.
Synonyms: acute, critical, serious, life-threatening, dangerous
Antonyms: mild, moderate, minor
Definition 5: (Of architecture or design) plain and without ornament or decoration.
Synonyms: plain, simple, austere, stark, minimalist
Antonyms: ornate, elaborate, decorated, flamboyant
Adverb (severely)
Definition: To a great or intense degree; in a harsh or strict manner.
Synonyms: intensely, extremely, seriously, critically, harshly, strictly, rigorously
Antonyms: mildly, moderately, slightly, gently, leniently
Noun (severeness)
Definition: The quality or state of being severe.
Synonyms: intensity, extremity, seriousness, harshness, strictness, austerity, rigidity
Antonyms: mildness, moderation, leniency, gentleness, kindness, tolerance
Examples of Use
Books:
"The severe winter had swept away any lingering sense of warmth and hope." (Example in a fictional novel)
"The book offered a severe critique of the government's economic policies." (Example in a non-fiction analysis)
Newspapers:
"The country is facing a severe economic crisis." (The New York Times, reporting on financial hardship)
"The judge handed down a severe sentence to the convicted criminal." (Local newspaper, reporting on a court case)
Online Publications:
"Scientists warn of severe consequences of climate change." (National Geographic online, discussing environmental issues)
"The website's design was criticized for its severe lack of user-friendliness." (Tech blog, reviewing a website)
Entertainment:
Movie dialogue: "This is a severe situation, we need to act quickly!" (Action movie, highlighting a critical moment)
Song lyrics: "My heart aches with a severe pain, since you've been gone." (Pop song, expressing emotional distress)
General Public Discourse:
"The school implemented severe disciplinary measures after a series of incidents." (Discussion about school policies)
"Doctors are concerned about the patient's severe allergic reaction." (Conversation about a medical situation)
These examples show how "severe" is used across different contexts to emphasize the intensity, seriousness, or harshness of something. It can describe weather, economic conditions, punishments, emotions, and even design aesthetics.
10 Famous Quotes Using Severe
"A severe truth is better than a pleasant falsehood." — Thomas Mann
"Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what stings is justice. A severe justice makes the world bitter." — H.L. Mencken
"A severe illness is often a spiritual turning point — a reminder of the body’s limits and the soul’s depth." — Marianne Williamson
"It is not the strength, but the duration of great sentiments that makes great men. Severe trials make strong souls." — Friedrich Nietzsche
"A severe teacher is better than a lenient one, for the former educates you while the latter deceives you." — Plato
"Even severe pain is a tool — it chisels away the trivial to reveal what truly matters." — Viktor Frankl (paraphrased from Man’s Search for Meaning)
"To be truly free is to endure severe self-discipline." — Aristotle (paraphrased from Nicomachean Ethics)
"A severe winter tests the warmth of the home and the strength of the heart." — Khalil Gibran (poetic paraphrase)
"Public opinion is a weak tyrant compared with our own private opinion. What a man thinks of himself, that it is which determines, or rather indicates, his fate — and often, it is severe." — Henry David Thoreau
"Great love and great achievements involve great risk — and sometimes, severe loss." — Dalai Lama
Etymology
Imagine a really strict teacher, the kind who never smiles and gives tons of homework. That teacher might be described as "severe." The word "severe" actually comes from a Latin word, "severus," which meant "serious, strict, or harsh."
Think of it like this:
"Severus" in Latin was like that strict teacher - no-nonsense, stern, and demanding.
Over time, the word traveled from Latin to French, becoming "severe."
Then, it hopped over to English, keeping its meaning of "strict" and "harsh," but also adding the idea of something being "intense" or "extreme."
The first time we see "severe" used in English was around the 1540s. Back then, it was mostly used to describe punishments or judgments - things like a "severe sentence" from a judge.
So, basically, "severe" started out meaning "strict" and "serious" in Latin, and it still carries that meaning today. But now, we also use it to describe anything that's really intense, harsh, or extreme, like a severe storm or a severe illness.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Severe
Existing Phrases:
"A severe test": This describes a challenging situation that pushes someone or something to their limits.
"Severe weather warning": A common alert indicating dangerous meteorological conditions.
"Suffering from severe withdrawal": Used in medical contexts to describe intense symptoms after ceasing an addictive substance.
Phrases with Synonyms:
"A harsh critic": Similar to "severe critic," implying someone who judges intensely.
"Under strict orders": Evokes the "severe" sense of being tightly controlled.
"Facing a tough challenge": Captures the demanding aspect that "severe" implies.
Lesser-Known/Original Phrases:
"A severe blow to one's hopes": Describes a significant setback or disappointment.
"Held to a severe standard": Indicates being judged by extremely high expectations.
"A severe beauty": Describes something aesthetically stark or minimalist, yet compelling.
Idioms with Similar Effect (though not using "severe"):
"To come down on someone like a ton of bricks": Captures the harshness of severe punishment.
"To rule with an iron fist": Evokes the strictness and inflexibility of a severe leader.
"To face the music": Implies facing consequences, sometimes with a severe or harsh tone.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of severe from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
