ascetic

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /əˈsɛtɪk/ UK /əˈsɛtɪk/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
practicing severe self-discipline and abstaining from worldly pleasures

The monk led an ascetic life of bread, water, and silent prayer.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · practicing severe... austere abstemiousself-denyingmonastic spartan puritanical hermitabstinent

Opposites

hedonistic indulgentsybariticluxuriousself-indulgent

Word family

Derived forms asceticismasceticalascetically

Simplified etymology

Ascetic entered English in the mid-17th century from Greek askētikos, based on askētēs, “monk.” It describes severe self-discipline and abstention from indulgence.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek askētikós ('disciplined, given to exercise'), from askētḗs ('monk, hermit, one who exercises'), from askéō ('I exercise, train').

askētikós Ancient Greek askéō Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# ascetic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /əˈsɛtɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /əˈsɛtɪk/

## Meanings
1. practicing severe self-discipline and abstaining from worldly pleasures

## Examples
- The monk led an ascetic life of bread, water, and silent prayer.

## Synonyms
- austere
- abstemious
- self-denying
- monastic
- spartan
- puritanical
- hermit
- abstinent

## Antonyms
- hedonistic
- indulgent
- sybaritic
- luxurious
- self-indulgent

## Derived Forms
- asceticism
- ascetical
- ascetically

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: askētikós
- Root: askéō

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek askētikós ('disciplined, given to exercise'), from askētḗs ('monk, hermit, one who exercises'), from askéō ('I exercise, train').

## AI Etymology
Ascetic is an adjective and noun meaning "practicing severe self-discipline and abstaining from worldly pleasures". Historically, it is from Ancient Greek askētikós ('disciplined, given to exercise'), from askētḗs ('monk, hermit, one who exercises'), from askéō ('I exercise, train'). The historical chain links Ancient Greek askētikós with Ancient Greek askéō. Close English family members include asceticism, ascetical, and ascetically.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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