austere

The definition of austere is someone or something that is minimalistic, something that is very somber or someone inflexible or extreme.

(adjective)

An example of someone who might live an austere lifestyle is a monk.
An example of someone who might have austere mannerisms is a recent widow.
An example of someone who was austere is the character Nurse Ratched from Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

See austere in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

Origin: ME < OFr < L austerus, harsh < Gr austēros, dry, harsh < auein, to dry < auos, dry < IE base *saus, dry > sear

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See austere in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective aus·ter·er, aus·ter·est

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

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin austērus

Origin: , from Greek austēros

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