austere
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Old French, 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”).
[edit] Pronunciation
- (RP): IPA: /ɒstɪə(ɹ)/ or IPA: /ɔːstɪə(ɹ)/
- (US): IPA: /ɔˈstiəɹ/
- (cot–caught merger, northern cities vowel shift): IPA: /ɑˈstiəɹ/
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Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɪə(r)
[edit] Adjective
austere (comparative austerer or more austere, superlative austerest or most austere)
- Grim or severe in manner or appearance
- The headmistress was an austere old woman.
- Lacking trivial decoration; not extravagant or gaudy
- The interior of the church was as austere as the parishioners were dour.
[edit] Synonyms
- (grim or severe): stern, strict, forbidding
- (lacking trivial decoration): simple, plain, unadorned, unembellished
[edit] Antonyms
- (not lacking trivial decoration): overwrought, flamboyant, extravagant, gaudy, flashy
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
grim, stern, strict
not extravagant
[edit] Italian
[edit] Adjective
austere pl.
- feminine form of austero
[edit] Latin
[edit] Adjective
austēre
- vocative masculine singular of austērus
