Austere Definition
ô-stîr
austerest, austerer
adjective
austerest, austerer
Severe or stern in disposition or appearance; somber and grave.
The austere figure of a Puritan minister.
American Heritage
Having a severe or stern look, manner, etc.; forbidding.
Webster's New World
Strict or severe in discipline; ascetic.
A desert nomad's austere life.
American Heritage
Showing strict self-discipline and self-denial; ascetic.
Webster's New World
Having no adornment or ornamentation; bare.
An austere style.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Other Word Forms of Austere
Adjective
Base Form:
austere
Comparative:
austerer
Superlative:
austerestOrigin of Austere
-
From Old French austere, from Latin austērus (“dry, harsh, sour, tart”), from Ancient Greek αὐστηρός (austēros, “bitter, harsh”), having the specific meaning "making the tongue dry" (originally used of fruits, wines), related to αὔω (auō, “to singe”), αὖος (auos, “dry”).
From Wiktionary
Middle English from Old French from Latin austērus from Greek austēros
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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