[HPforGrownups] RE: NAMES (Severus)

[Jen Faulkner]

No: HPFGUIDX 29824

On Sat, 24 Nov 2001, Catlady (Rita Prince Winston) wrote:

> More like "severe" is an anglicazation of "Severus". It was the name 
> of a Roman emperor, Lucius Severus Septimus.

As well as being a name (of the emperor Septimius Severus), the word
'severus' is also just an adjective meaning 'strict, severe'; it is from
the adjective, I am nearly certain, that the name derives.  A highly
appropriate name for Snape, indeed.  

(The second e in 'severus' is long, and thus the accent falls on that
syllable (seVErus), and the accentuation of the name should be the same
in English.  It is pronounced that way by some, particularly us
classicists, but the common method now shortens the e and puts the
accent back on the first syllable: SEverus.)

--jen :)

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