severus

Meaning

severe, serious, strict, stern, stringent, austere, harsh, grave (in demeanor)

Concepts

strict

severe

stern

harsh

tough

hard

sharp

stark

austere

stringent

rigorous

Opposite of

mītis, tranquillus, misericors, placidus, quietus, clemens

Synonyms

acerbus

austerus

rigorosus

Translations

severo

severo

severo

austère

sévère

streng

sever

austero

hard

zwaar

straf

bar

duchtig

Pronounced as (IPA)

[sɛˈweː.rʊs]

Etymology

According to De Vaan, from Proto-Italic *seɣwēros, from a collective derivation of the noun Proto-Indo-European *séǵʰwr̥, from Proto-Indo-European *seǵʰ- (“to hold”).
Other etymologists, such as Meiser, posit this word to be from se- + verus, but De Vaan notes a heavy semantic mismatch.