Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The state or quality of being austere; harshness in taste; severity in manners; austerity.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Harshness or astringent sourness to the taste; acerbity.
  • noun Severity; strictness; austerity.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The state of being austere; harshness or astringent sourness to the taste; acerbity.
  • noun The state of being austere; severity; strictness; austerity.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun extreme plainness

Etymologies

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Examples

  • This has not prevented him from understanding better than anybody the wildness, the grand austereness of the rocks of

    The French Impressionists (1860-1900) Camille Mauclair 1908

  • Cæsar was esteemed for his humanity and benevolence; austereness had given dignity to Cato.

    On the Punishment of the Catiline Conspirators 1906

  • Suddenly, a kindly smile broke through the austereness of the prelate's countenance, and he thrust out his hand; the old soldier met it.

    The Puppet Crown Harold MacGrath 1901

  • The Puritan had stretched his austereness to the point of levity; the Dutchman had comfortably sweated his obedience and content; the Cavalier had paced it with a pretty air of patronage and an eye for matron and maid; the

    The Project Gutenberg Complete Works of Gilbert Parker Gilbert Parker 1897

  • But, putting aside the charm of the Liverpool steamboats, perhaps the view, on this side, a little dissatisfies one after a while; the horizon wants mystery, the sea wants beauty, the coast wants verdure, and has a too bare austereness and aridity.

    Celtic Literature Matthew Arnold 1855

  • Caesar was esteemed for his humanity and benevolence; austereness had given dignity to Cato.

    Conspiracy of Catiline and the Jurgurthine War 86 BC-34? BC Sallust 1844

  • One thing I love about Y Combinator before today is its austereness.

    Scobleizer Robert Scoble 2011

  • 'Who will believe you, Isabel?' said Angelo; 'my unsoiled name, the austereness of my life, my word vouched against yours, will outweigh your accusation.

    Tales from Shakespeare Mary Lamb 1805

  • ” said Angelo; “my unsoiled name, the austereness of my life, my word vouched against yours, will outweigh your accusation.

    Measure for Measure 1878

  • -- "Who will believe you, Isabel?" said Angelo; "my unsoiled name, the austereness of my life, my word vouched against yours, will outweigh your accusation.

    Tales from Shakespeare Mary Lamb 1805

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