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Added 9 October 2026

severity

/sɪˈvɛɹ.ɪ.ti/ noun

In Latin: severitas Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about severity at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The state of being severe.
The degree of something undesirable; badness or seriousness.
The severity of the offence merits a long prison sentence.

Origin

From Middle English severity, from Middle French severite (modern French sévérité), from Latin sevēritās. By surface analysis, severe + -ity.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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