severity

noun

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

1. The state of being severe.

   “[…] the fear of God whereof ' tis written Keeper : But not the fear of punishment for sin And I can see that the uncertainty In which we act is a severity , A cruelty , amounting to injustice That nothing but God's mercy can assuage . […]”

2. The degree of something undesirable; badness or seriousness.

   “The severity of the offence merits a long prison sentence.”