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Any severe trial, or test; a painful experience. Ordeal bean. (Bot.) See Calabar bean, under Calabar. -- Ordeal root (Bot.) the root of a species of Strychnos growing in West Africa, used, like the ordeal bean, in trials for witchcraft. -- Ordeal tree (Bot.), a poisonous tree of Madagascar (Tanghinia, or Cerbera, ven…

ed method; as a rule; commonly; usually; in most cases; as, a winter more than ordinarily severe. Those who ordinarily pride themselves not a little upon their penetration. I. Taylor.

Too rigid; too severe.

A condition of the muscles induced by exposure to severe cold, in which the electrical action of the muscle is reversed.

Having the quality of enduring; physically able to suffer or bear. Patient of severest toil and hardship. Bp. Fell.

An erythematous affection of the skin, with severe constitutional and nervous symptoms, endemic in Northern Italy.

To persevere. [Obs.]

tly; especially, to continue fixed in a course of conduct against opposing motives; to persevere; -- sometimes conveying an unfavorable notion, as of doggedness or obstinacy. If they persist in pointing their batteries against particular persons, no laws of war forbid the making reprisals. Addison. Some positive, persi…

ded into eight reals. -- To give a piece of one's mind to, to speak plainly, bluntly, or severely to (another). Tackeray. -- Piece broker, one who buys shreds and remnants of cloth to sell again. -- Piece goods, goods usually sold by pieces or fixed portions, as shirtings, calicoes, sheetings, and the like.…

something, especially of something required or desired; destitution; need; as, to undergo severe privations.

Like a prude; very formal, precise, or reserved; affectedly severe in virtue; as, a prudish woman; prudish manners. A formal lecture, spoke with prudish face. Garrick.

Sharply painful; penetrating; poignant; severe; caustic; stinging. With pungent pains on every side. Swift. His pungent pen played its part in rousing the nation. J. R. Green.

nd near a royal forest, which, having been unlawfully added to the forest, was afterwards severed from it, and disafforested so as to remit to the former owners their rights. Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play. Milton.

A smart, sarcastic turn or jest; a taunt; a severe retort; a gibe. Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles. Milton. He was full of joke and jest, But all his merry quips are o'er. Tennyson.

Respect; relation; reference. Persuade them to pursue and persevere in virtue, with regard to themselves; in justice and goodness with regard to their neighbors; and piefy toward God. I. Watts.

The union of parts which have been severed, so that they become anatomically perfect; as, the regeneration of a nerve.

To make less severe or rogorous; to abate the stringency of; to remit in respect to strenuousness, esrnestness, or effort; as, to relax discipline; to relax one's attention or endeavors. The stature of mortmain was at several times relaxed by the legilature. Swift.

To become less severe or intense; to become less hard, harsh, cruel, or the like; to soften in temper; to become more mild and tender; to feel compassion. Can you . . . behold My sighs and tears, and will not once relent Shak.

for reprehending thee. Shak. In which satire human vices, ignorance, and errors . . . are severely reprehended. Dryden. I nor advise nor reprehend the choice. J. Philips.

Severe or formal reproof; reprehension, private or public. Goldsmith gave his landlady a sharp reprimand for her treatment of him. Macaulay.