oversevere

English

Etymology

over- +‎ severe

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌəʊvəˈsɪˈvɪə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌəʊvəˈsɪˈvɪɹ/
• Hyphenation: o‧ver‧sev‧ere

Adjective

oversevere (comparative more oversevere, superlative most oversevere)

1. (rare) Excessively severe.
   • 1817, United States Government Printing Office, United States Congressional Serial Set‎^[1], U.S. G.P.O., page 343:

     Companies, by often imposing oversevere tasks on their men, oblige them to use every subterfuge in order to meet the imjust exigencies of their employers.

   • 1822, Francis Charles Laird, Lady Jane Grey, and Her Times‎^[2], Sherwood, Neely and Jones, page 125:

     From her girlish days, Lady Jane was permitted, by her fond, yet oversevere parents, to mix with a few of the intimate friends of the family.

   • 1858, Catherine Grace F . Gore, Heckington‎^[3], Hurst and Blackett Publishers, page 129:

     "I cannot help hoping that you are oversevere," said Miss Corbet.

   • 1865, Francis Charles Laird, The Nation‎^[4], J.H. Richards, pages 718–719:

     If the Senate amendments prevail the alien would find himself caught between two fires. He must register if he is an alien; he must pass an oversevere educational test if he wishes to become a citizen.

   • 1920, The Saturday Evening Post‎^[5], G. Graham, page 22:

     This is not an unjust or oversevere commentary; let any reasonable reader inspect the publications of the vers-libre poets, the exhibitions of cubist sculpture and futurist painting, the productions of the disciples of the new art of the theater and decide that point for himself.