definition of
severity

[1] #1 severity n. [badness, severeness] used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather. wn

[2] #2 severity n. [asperity, grimness, hardship, rigor, rigour, severeness, rigorousness, rigourousness] something hard to endure; "the asperity of northern winters". wn

[3] #3 severity n. [austereness, severeness] extreme plainness. wn

[4] #4 severity n. [severeness, harshness, rigor, rigour, rigorousness, rigourousness, inclemency, hardness, stiffness] excessive sternness; "severity of character"; "the harshness of his punishment was inhuman"; "the rigors of boot camp". wn