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Posted: **Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:15 pm**

severity
1481, "austerity or strictness of life," from M.Fr. severite, from L. severitas, from severus "stern, strict, serious," possibly from *se vero "without kindness," from se "without" (see secret) + *vero "kindness," neuter ablative of verus "true" (see very). Meaning "strictness in dealing with others" is recorded from 1530. Severe is 1548, from M.Fr. severe, from L. severus.

Severe thunderstorm warnings today made me think of this word and its various uses...

-Tim

Posted: **Thu Jul 14, 2005 2:58 pm**

Portuguese: severidade
Spanish: severidad
Italian: severità
French: sévérité
Catalan: severitat
Romanian: severitate

Brazilian dude

Posted: **Thu Jul 14, 2005 4:05 pm**

I heard a commentator describe the faces in this painting as "severe" the other day...

-Tim

Posted: **Thu Jul 14, 2005 4:35 pm**

To borrow a line from the late Minnie Pearl:

He said she looked like a breath of spring. Well, actually he said she looked like the end of a hard winter.

Whilst we're on the subject of Minnie Pearl quotes:

"Kissing a fella with a beard is like a picnic. You don't mind going through a little brush to get there."

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SEVERE

SEVERE