austere

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"[7 Footnote 7: Revelation 2:7 The mission of the austere is the development of strength.

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Definitions (11)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. adjective Severe or stern in disposition or appearance; somber and grave: the austere figure of a Puritan minister.
  2. adjective Strict or severe in discipline; ascetic: a desert nomad's austere life. See Synonyms at severe.
  3. adjective Having no adornment or ornamentation; bare: an austere style.

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Examples

  • I am aware that his humour is somewhat austere, and at times perhaps too independent for a mind like yours; and that there would not have been many wanting who might, in consequence, have endeavoured to alienate from him the affections of yourself and of my children; but should it ever be so, do not yield too ready a credence to their words. —  The Life of Marie de Medicis
  • Mably was a lover of virtue and freedom; but his virtue was austere, and his freedom was impatient of an equal. —  Memoirs of My Life and Writings
  • "[7 Footnote 7: Revelation 2:7 The mission of the austere is the development of strength. —  The Ascent of the Soul
  • The mission of the austere is the development of strength. —  The Ascent of the Soul
  • T_he word austere, obediently to wield —  Horace and His Influence
 

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Austere has been looked up 1080 times, favorited 9 times, listed 85 times, and commented on once.

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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

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Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

sober ·  haughty ·  lofty ·  serene ·  gloomy ·  grim ·  rigid ·  sombre ·  pious ·  gentle ·  uncompromising ·  religious
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, from Old French, from Latin austērus, from Greek austēros.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Middle English austere, from Old French austere, from Latin austerus, harsh, sour, tart, severe, from Greek αὐστηρός, dry, harsh, bitter, from αὐος, Attic αὐος, dry, withered, sear; related to English sear, sere, dry: see sear, sere.
 

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/ɔsˈtir/
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