austere
English
Etymology
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
- (Received Pronunciation): IPA(key): /ɒstɪə(ɹ)/, /ɔːstɪə(ɹ)/
- (US)
- (General American) IPA(key): /ɔˈstiɹ/, enPR: ôstēr′
- (cot–caught merger, northern cities vowel shift): IPA(key): /ɑˈstiɹ/
Audio (US) (file)
- Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)
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.
Synonyms
- (grim or severe): stern, strict, forbidding
- (lacking trivial decoration): simple, plain, unadorned, unembellished
Antonyms
- (not lacking trivial decoration): overwrought, flamboyant, extravagant, gaudy, flashy
Translations
grim, stern, strict
not extravagant
Italian
Latin
References
- 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

Austere
Etymology
Perhaps related to Ancient Greek ὄστρεον (óstreon).
Pronunciation
(file) |
Noun
austere f (5th declension)
Declension
Declension of austere (5th declension)
singular (vienskaitlis) | plural (daudzskaitlis) | |
---|---|---|
nominative (nominatīvs) | austere | austeres |
accusative (akuzatīvs) | austeri | austeres |
genitive (ģenitīvs) | austeres | austeru |
dative (datīvs) | austerei | austerēm |
instrumental (instrumentālis) | austeri | austerēm |
locative (lokatīvs) | austerē | austerēs |
vocative (vokatīvs) | austere | austeres |
Middle French
Old French
Alternative forms
- haustere
- auster (masculine only)
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