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seriousness

   Also found in: Medical, Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
se·ri·ous  (sîr-s)
adj.
1. Grave in quality or manner: gave me a serious look.
2.
a. Carried out in earnest: engaged in serious drinking; serious study of Italian.
b. Deeply interested or involved: a serious card player.
c. Designed for and addressing grave and earnest tastes: serious art; serious music.
d. Not trifling or jesting: I'm serious: we expect you to complete the assignment on time. Her question was serious enough to deserve a thoughtful response.
e. Of considerable size or scope; substantial: a cleanup that cost serious money.
f. Of such character or quality as to appeal to the expert, the connoisseur, or the sophisticate: "Every serious kitchen needs at least one peppermill" Washington Post.
3. Concerned with important rather than trivial matters: a serious student of history.
4.
a. Being of such import as to cause anxiety: serious injuries; a serious turn of events.
b. Too complex to be easily answered or solved: raised some serious objections to the proposal.

[Middle English, from Old French serieux, from Late Latin srisus, from Latin srius.]

seri·ous·ly adv.
seri·ous·ness n.
Synonyms: serious, sober, grave2, solemn, earnest1, sedate1, staid
These adjectives refer to manner, appearance, disposition, or acts marked by absorption in thought, pressing concerns, or significant work. Serious implies a concern with responsibility and work as opposed to play: serious students of music.
Sober emphasizes circumspection and self-restraint: "My sober mind was no longer intoxicated by the fumes of politics" Edward Gibbon.
Grave suggests the dignity and somberness associated with weighty matters: "a quiet, grave man, busied in charts, exact in sums, master of the art of tactics" Walter Bagehot.
Solemn often adds to grave the suggestion of impressiveness: the judge's solemn tone as she handed down her decision.
Earnest implies sincerity and intensity of purpose: disputants who showed an earnest desire to reach an equitable solution.
Sedate implies a composed, dignified manner: "One of those calm, quiet, sedate natures, to whom the temptations of turbulent nerves or vehement passions are things utterly incomprehensible" Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Staid emphasizes dignity and an often strait-laced observance of propriety: "a grave and staid God-fearing man" Tennyson.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.seriousnessseriousness - an earnest and sincere feeling
solemnity, gravity - a solemn and dignified feeling
2.seriousness - the quality of arousing fear or distress; "he learned the seriousness of his illness"
severeness, severity, badness - used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather
3.seriousness - the trait of being serious; "a lack of solemnity is not necessarily a lack of seriousness"- Robert Rice
trait - a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
commitment, committedness - the trait of sincere and steadfast fixity of purpose; "a man of energy and commitment"
graveness, gravity, soberness, sobriety, somberness, sombreness - a manner that is serious and solemn
sedateness, solemness, solemnity, staidness - a trait of dignified seriousness
frivolity, frivolousness - the trait of being frivolous; not serious or sensible

seriousness
Translations
Spanish seriousness [ˈsɪərɪəsnɪs] nseriedad f; gravedad f
French seriousness [ˈsɪərɪəsnɪs] nsérieux m, gravité f
German seriousness [ˈsɪərɪəsnɪs] serious nErnst m, Ernsthaftigkeit f;
(of problem) → Bedenklichkeit f

Italian seriousness [ˈsɪərɪəsnɪs] nserietà, gravità

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He waited until the place had become absolutely silent and expectant, then he delivered his deadliest shot; delivered it with ice-cold seriousness and deliberation, with a significant emphasis upon the closing words: he said he believed that the reward offered for the lost knife was humbug and bunkum, and that its owner would know where to find it whenever he should have occasion TO ASSASSINATE SOMEBODY.
The perfect seriousness with which he narrated his misfortunes convulsed me with laughter, and this added to Mrs.
The military authorities were certainly alive to the seriousness of the busi- ness.
 
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