Severe thunderstorm warnings today made me think of this word and its various uses...severity
1481, "austerity or strictness of life," from M.Fr. severite, from L. severitas, from severus "stern, strict, serious," possibly from *se vero "without kindness," from se "without" (see secret) + *vero "kindness," neuter ablative of verus "true" (see very). Meaning "strictness in dealing with others" is recorded from 1530. Severe is 1548, from M.Fr. severe, from L. severus.
-Tim