Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary

I.seriousness, gravity, sternness, strictness, severity, in a good and bad sense (class. and very freq.; “syn. gravitas): tristis severitas inest in vultu,” Ter. And. 5, 2, 16: “severitatem in senectute probo: acerbitatem nullo modo,” Cic. Sen. 18, 65 (opp. lepos); id. Off. 1, 37, 134: “censorum,” id. Rep. 4, 6, 15; cf. Val. Max. 2, 9.—Plur.: “censorum severitates,” Gell. 4, 20, 1: “tristitia et in omni re severitas,” Cic. Lael. 18, 66; cf.: “homo ipsā tristitiā et severitate popularis,” id. Brut. 25, 97: “si illius comitatem et facilitatem tuae gravitati severitatique asperseris,” id. Mur. 31, 66; so (opp. comitas) id. Brut. 40, 148; (opp. mansuetudo et misericordia) Sall. C. 54, 2; (opp hilaritas risusque) Cic. Brut. 93, 322: “T. Torquatus cum illam severitatem in eo filio adhibuit, quem, etc.,” id. Fin. 1, 7, 24: “evellere se aculeum severitatis vestrae,” id. Clu. 55, 152: “laetissimae vir severitatis,” Vell. 2, 127, 4: “Catoni severitas dignitatem addiderat,” Sall. C. 54, 2: “commodare magnis peccatis severitatem,” Tac. Agr. 19: “summa severitas animadversionis,” Cic. Fam. 9, 14, 7: “exempli,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 3, § 7: “judiciorum (opp. lenitas ac misericordia),” id. Sull. 33, 92: “imperii,” Caes. B. G. 7, 4; cf.: militarem disciplinam severitatemque minuere, Auct. B. Alex. 48 fin.; “65: nimia emendationis severitas,” Quint. 2, 4, 10: “disciplinae,” id. 2, 2, 4: “orationis,” Plin. Ep. 2, 5, 6: “hac severitate aurium laetor,” this severity of taste, id. ib. 3, 18, 9.—

II. Transf.: “etiam corruptissimo in genere magis tamen juvat quaedam ipsius viti severitas,” rudeness, crudeness, Plin. 13, 3, 4, § 21.