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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

austère

austère

See also: austere and austerē

French

Adjective

austère m, f ‎(plural austères)

  1. austere

Anagrams

Etymology

From Latin austērus ‎(“dry, harsh, sour, tart”), from Ancient Greek αὐστηρός ‎(austērós, “bitter, harsh”), having the specific meaning "making the tongue dry" (originally used of fruits, wines), related to αὔω ‎(aúō, “to singe”), αὖος ‎(aûos, “dry”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ostɛːʁ/

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