Hypertext Webster Gateway: "harsh"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Harsh \Harsh\ (h[aum]rsh), a. [Compar. {Harsher} (-[~e]r);
superl. {Harshest}.] [OE. harsk; akin to G. harsch, Dan.
harsk rancid, Sw. h["a]rsk; from the same source as E. hard.
See {Hard}, a.]
1. Rough; disagreeable; grating; esp.:
(a) disagreeable to the touch. ``Harsh sand.'' --Boyle.
(b) disagreeable to the taste. ``Berries harsh and
crude.'' --Milton.
(c) disagreeable to the ear. ``Harsh din.'' --Milton.

2. Unpleasant and repulsive to the sensibilities; austere;
crabbed; morose; abusive; abusive; severe; rough.

Clarence is so harsh, so blunt. --Shak.

Though harsh the precept, yet the charmed. --Dryden.

3. (Painting, Drawing, etc.) Having violent contrasts of
color, or of light and shade; lacking in harmony.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

harsh
adj 1: unpleasantly stern; "wild and harsh country full of hot sand
and cactus"; "the nomad life is rough and hazardous"
[syn: {rough}]
2: disagreeable to the senses; "the harsh cry of a blue jay";
"harsh cognac"; "the harsh white light makes you screw up
your eyes"; "harsh irritating smoke filled the hallway"
3: extremely unkind or cruel; "had harsh words"; "a harsh and
unlovable old tyrant"
4: severe; "a harsh penalty"
5: (of circumstances; especially weather) causing suffering;
"brutal weather"; "northern winters can be cruel"; "a
cruel world"; "a harsh climate; "a rigorous climate";
"unkind winters" [syn: {brutal}, {cruel}, {rigorous}, {unkind}]
6: sharply disagreeable; rigorous; "the harsh facts of court
delays"; "an abrasive character" [syn: {abrasive}]


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