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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Severe, adj. Also: sever, -veir(e, -weir, -veer. [e.m.E. seuere (1548), seuer (1561), seuear (Shakespeare), F. sévère (OF sever, severe (late 12th c. and 15th c. in Larousse)), L. sevēr- serious, grave, strict.]

1. Of a person in authority: Strict, not given to leniency; forceful in upholding the law.(1) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1613 (B).
I am ane juge, richt potent and seveir a1585 Maitl. Q. 157/135.
Ladye … Have pitie … Quhat prayis haue ȝe to be seueir 1596 Dalr. I 98/20.
Leist gif in tyme of peace they schaw thame selfes mair seueir than rasone requires 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 64.
To be so exact and seveir … in punishing such enormities(2) 1596 Dalr. I 185/10.
He was a seueire defender of justice and æquitie

2. Of a person: Unsparing in criticism or reproof; censorious, condemnatory. 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 85/21.
S. Hierom. the seueir impugner of all hæritiks in his age 1600-1610 Melvill 128.
Jhone Dury, wha was maist seveire against him 1596 Dalr. I 304/12.
He committed his cure till ane Machabie sum thing seueirer than him self 1645 Rep. Menzies MSS 19.
As I am loth to be seuere so I will not be dallied

3. Of judgment, punishment, censure, or the like: Rigorous in effect, application or tone. Also transf., of the document, etc. containing the censure. 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 173.
That … all such cutthroittis suld imbrace His seueir censure for thair villanie 1558 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 152.
The seveir and rigorus sentence of the apostole 1562-3 Winȝet I 21/6.
The seueir punisment of Core, Dathan, and Abiron 1562-3 Winȝet I 114/12.
Bot God forbid … that ȝe be the caus of sa seueir iugement 1563-72 Ferg. Tracts 10.
Their seueir reboking of vice 1567 Acts II 575/2.
Seweir 1572 Bann. Memor. 277.
What faill salbe fundin, seveir correctione to follow thervpoun 1591 Elgin Rec. II 16.
That thais actis contenis sum seveir and rigorous dealing 1593 Reg. Privy C. V 73.
That seveir justice wes maist expedient to be usit 1600-1610 Melvill 135.
The bischopes war sett upon and seveire ordour takin with tham 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 189.
That without seuer animaduersione thay can not be cohibite from thair wonted souage behauiour a1634 Forbes Rec. 420.
Not a little commoved at their rigorous and seveir proceedings against the ministers 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1751) 33.
And their severe slighting of wine Makes them so with the cholic pinetransf. 1592 Conv. Burghs I 391.
To subscryue ane seueir missive 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 152.
Divers seveir acts wer by him made as justiciar

4. Of a mode of life: Austere, self-denying; strict in terms of conduct and habits. 1596 Dalr. I 107/2.
That preistes … sulde follow a certane seueir way and maner of leiueng

b. Of a way of doing something: Harsh, rigorous. 1681 Strathallan Geneal. Drummond 158.
This rydeing of teynds is a kind of severe way to consider and estimate the value of the tenth sheaffe of all cornes … standing on the ground and from thence to establish the number of teynd bolls … to be payed … which rigour the Drummonds did not well lyke

5. a. Of the weather: Harsh. b. Of an earthquake: Powerful. c. Of heat: Intense.a. c1590 J. Stewart 62/188.
As quhan seuerest thuds of Boreas blaws On flurist flours and all thair blossoms maws a1688 Wallace Orkney 156.
In the center of Germany … the winters are generally more severeb. 1679 Dunferm. Ann. 349.
A verie seveer schoke of an earthquak was felt throughout the whole of Fife, on 10th July 1679c. c1590 J. Stewart 86/215.
Quhan fair Phebus vith his heit seueir Did brymlie byrne

6. Of a disease: Virulent. 1596 Dalr. II 61/13.
The pest sa seueir, that al infected suddenlie defected and diet