əˈspɛɹɪti əˈspɛɹɪɾi ˈbæd.nəs ˈhɑɹdnəs ˈhɑːdnəs ˈhɑɹdˌʃɪp ˈhɑːdˌʃɪp ɹɪɡɚ ˈɹɪɡə(ɹ) səˈvɛɹɨti excessive sternness severity of character the harshness of his punishment was inhuman the rigors of boot camp extreme plainness something hard to endure the asperity of northern winters used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather