Noah Webster
Harsh
H'ARSH, adjective
1. Rough to the touch; rugged; grating; as harsh sand; harsh cloth; opposed to smooth.
2. Sour; rough to the taste; as harsh fruit.
3. Rough to the ear; grating; discordant; jarring; as a harsh sound; harsh notes; a harsh voice.
4. Austere; crabbed; morose; peevish. Civilization softens the harsh temper or nature of man.
5. Rough; rude; abusive; as harsh words; a harsh reflection.
6. Rigorous; severe.
Though harsh the precept, yet the preacher charm'd.