Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Austere

Aus-tere′

,
[F.
austère
, L.
austerus
, fr. Gr. [GREEK], fr. [GREEK] to parch, dry. Cf.
Sear
.]
1.
Sour and astringent; rough to the state; having acerbity;
as, an
austere
crab apple;
austere
wine.
2.
Severe in modes of judging, or living, or acting; rigid; rigorous; stern;
as, an
austere
man, look, life
.
From whom the
austere
Etrurian virtue rose.
Dryden.
3.
Unadorned; unembellished; severely simple.
Syn. – Harsh; sour; rough; rigid; stern; severe; rigorous; strict.

Webster 1828 Edition


Austere

AUSTE'RE

,
Adj.
[L. Austerus.
1.
Severe; harsh; rigid; stern; applied to persons; as an austere master; an austere look.
2.
Sour; harsh; rough to the taste; applied to things; as austere fruit, or wine.

Definition 2024


austere

austere

See also: austère and austerē

English

Adjective

austere (comparative austerer or more austere, superlative austerest or most austere)

  1. Grim or severe in manner or appearance
    The headmistress was an austere old woman.
  2. Lacking trivial decoration; not extravagant or gaudy
    The interior of the church was as austere as the parishioners were dour.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations


Italian

Adjective

austere f pl

  1. feminine plural of austero

Latin

Adjective

austēre

  1. vocative masculine singular of austērus

References


Latvian

Austere

Etymology

Perhaps related to Ancient Greek ὄστρεον (óstreon).

Pronunciation

Noun

austere f (5th declension)

  1. oyster (certain edible bivalve mollusks of the order Ostreoida)
    austeru zvejaoyster fishing
    rīt austeres ― to swallow oysters
    austeru lasītāji un lasītājas tur brida kailām kājām ― male and female oyster collectors were wading there (= in shallow water) barefoot

Declension


Middle French

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin austērus.

Adjective

austere m, f (plural austeres)

  1. austere; severe

Old French

Alternative forms

  • haustere
  • auster (masculine only)

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin austērus.

Adjective

austere m (oblique and nominative feminine singular austere)

  1. (of a flavor) acrid; bitter
  2. austere; severe