Se"ri*ous*ness

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Serious \Se"ri*ous\, a. [L. serius: cf. F. s['e]rieux, LL.
   seriosus.]
   1. Grave in manner or disposition; earnest; thoughtful;
      solemn; not light, gay, or volatile.
      [1913 Webster]

            He is always serious, yet there is about his manner
            a graceful ease.                      --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Really intending what is said; being in earnest; not
      jesting or deceiving. --Beaconsfield.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Important; weighty; not trifling; grave.
      [1913 Webster]

            The holy Scriptures bring to our ears the most
            serious things in the world.          --Young.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Hence, giving rise to apprehension; attended with danger;
      as, a serious injury.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Grave; solemn; earnest; sedate; important; weighty. See
        {Grave}.
        [1913 Webster] -- {Se"ri*ous*ly}, adv. --
        {Se"ri*ous*ness}, n.
        [1913 Webster]
    
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
77 Moby Thesaurus words for "seriousness":
      abandon, ardency, ardor, commitment, committedness, decidedness,
      decision, decisiveness, decorousness, dedication, definiteness,
      demureness, determinateness, determination, determinedness,
      devotedness, devotion, devoutness, earnest, earnestness, faith,
      faithfulness, fervency, fervidness, fervor, fidelity, fire,
      formality, gravity, grimness, heartiness, heat, heatedness,
      impassionedness, intensity, intentness, long face, loyalty,
      moderation, no joke, no laughing matter, obstinacy, passion,
      passionateness, perseverance, persistence, purpose, purposefulness,
      relentlessness, resoluteness, resolution, resolve, resolvedness,
      sedateness, self-will, sincerity, single-mindedness,
      sober-mindedness, soberness, sobersidedness, sobersides, sobriety,
      solemnity, solemnness, somberness, spirit, staidness,
      straight face, temperance, tenacity, thoughtfulness,
      total commitment, vehemence, warmth, weightiness, will, zeal

    

[email protected]