austere

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɔˈstiɹ/ UK /ɒˈstɪə(ɹ)/ See IPA manual

Freq #33259

Meanings

1

adj
Severe or stern in manner or appearance.

The headmistress was an austere old woman who rarely smiled.
2

adj
Plain and simple, without any decoration or comfort.

The interior of the church was austere, with bare stone walls and no ornament.
3

adj
Practicing strict self-denial and avoiding pleasure or luxury.

He led an austere life, owning almost nothing and eating only plain food.
4

adj
Following a strict economic policy of cutting spending.

The government adopted austere measures to reduce the national debt.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · severe or stern in manner... stern grim forbidding cold dour

2 adj · plain and simple, without... bare plain spartan unadorned simple stark

3 adj · practicing strict... ascetic

Word family

Forms austererausterest

Derived forms austerelyausterenessausterityunaustere

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

austere expression
a stern facial appearance showing little warmth or emotion

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Ancient Greek αὐστηρός (austērós, “bitter, harsh, astringent”), having the specific meaning “making the tongue dry” (originally used of fruits, wines), related to αὔω (aúō, “to singe”), αὖος (aûos, “dry”).

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# austere

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ɔˈstiɹ/
**IPA (UK):** /ɒˈstɪə(ɹ)/
**Frequency rank:** 33259

## Meanings
1. Severe or stern in manner or appearance.
2. Plain and simple, without any decoration or comfort.
3. Practicing strict self-denial and avoiding pleasure or luxury.
4. Following a strict economic policy of cutting spending.

## Examples
- The headmistress was an austere old woman who rarely smiled.
- The interior of the church was austere, with bare stone walls and no ornament.
- He led an austere life, owning almost nothing and eating only plain food.
- The government adopted austere measures to reduce the national debt.

## Derived Forms
- austerely
- austereness
- austerity
- unaustere

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek αὐστηρός (austērós, “bitter, harsh, astringent”), having the specific meaning “making the tongue dry” (originally used of fruits, wines), related to αὔω (aúō, “to singe”), αὖος (aûos, “dry”).

## AI Etymology
Austere is from Ancient Greek αὐστηρός (austērós, “bitter, harsh, astringent”), having the specific meaning “making the tongue dry” (originally used of fruits, wines), related to αὔω (aúō, “to singe”), αὖος (aûos, “dry”). Current senses include severe or stern in manner or appearance and plain and simple, without any decoration or comfort. The wider family includes derived forms such as austerely, austereness, austerity, and unaustere.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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