austere

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See also: austère and austerē

English

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Etymology

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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

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Adjective

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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 decoration; trivial; not extravagant or gaudy.
    The interior of the church was as austere as the parishioners were dour.

Synonyms

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Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Italian

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /awˈstɛ.re/
  • Rhymes: -ɛre
  • Hyphenation: au‧stè‧re

Adjective

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austere

  1. feminine plural of austero

Latin

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Pronunciation

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Adjective

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austēre

  1. vocative masculine singular of austērus

References

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  • austere”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • austere”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers

Latvian

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 austere on Latvian Wikipedia
Austere

Etymology

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(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.) Perhaps related to Ancient Greek ὄστρεον (óstreon).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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austere f (5th declension)

  1. oyster (certain edible bivalve mollusks of the order Ostreida)
    austeru zvejaoyster fishing
    rīt austeresto swallow oysters
    austeru lasītāji un lasītājas tur brida kailām kājāmmale and female oyster collectors were wading there (= in shallow water) barefoot

Declension

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Middle French

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Latin austērus.

Adjective

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austere m or f (plural austeres)

  1. austere; severe

Old French

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Latin austērus.

Adjective

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austere m (oblique and nominative feminine singular austere)

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