austere

austere
[[t]ɔːstɪ͟ə(r)[/t]]
1) ADJ-GRADED (approval) If you describe something as austere, you approve of its plain and simple appearance.

...a cream linen suit and austere black blouse...

The church was austere and simple.

2) ADJ-GRADED (disapproval) If you describe someone as austere, you disapprove of them because they are strict and serious.

I found her a rather austere, distant, somewhat cold person.

...an extraordinarily austere and puritanical organization.

3) ADJ-GRADED An austere way of life is one that is simple and without luxuries.

The life of the troops was still comparatively austere.

Syn:
4) ADJ-GRADED An austere economic policy is one which reduces people's living standards sharply.

...a set of very austere economic measures to control inflation.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:
(to the taste), , / , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • austère — [ ostɛr ] adj. • 1120 « âpre »; lat. austerus, du gr. 1 ♦ Qui se montre sévère pour soi, ne s accorde aucun luxe ou plaisir. Un homme austère. ⇒ puritain, rigoriste, sévère, sobre, spartiate, stoïcien. Par ext. ⇒ dur, rigoureux. La vie austère d… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • austère — AUSTÈRE. adj. des 2 g. Qui est rigoureux en ce qui regarde le traitement du corps, et qui mortifie les sens et l esprit. Religion austère. Règle austère. Jeûne austère. Mener une vie austère. Faire une pénitence austère. Il garde un silence… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • austere — AUSTERE. adj. de tout genre, Qui est rigoureux en ce qui regarde le traitement du corps. Religion austere. Ordre austere. regle austere. habit austere. mener une vie austere. faire une penitence austere. jeusne austere. deüil austere. Il signifie …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Austere — Aus*tere , [F. aust[ e]re, L. austerus, fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to parch, dry. Cf. {Sear}.] 1. Sour and astringent; rough to the state; having acerbity; as, an austere crab apple; austere wine. [1913 Webster] 2. Severe in modes of judging, or living, or …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • austere — (adj.) early 14c., from O.Fr. austere (Mod.Fr. austère) and directly from L. austerus dry, harsh, sour, tart, from Gk. austeros bitter, harsh, especially making the tongue dry (originally used of fruits, wines), metaphorically austere, harsh,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • austere — [adj1] severe in manner ascetic, astringent, cold, earnest, exacting, forbidding, formal, grave, grim, hard, harsh, inexorable, inflexible, obdurate, rigid, rigorous, serious, sober, solemn, somber, stern, stiff, strict, stringent, unfeeling,… …   New thesaurus

  • austere — [ô stir′] adj. [ME < OFr < L austerus, harsh < Gr austēros, dry, harsh < auein, to dry < auos, dry < IE base * saus, dry > SEAR1] 1. having a severe or stern look, manner, etc.; forbidding 2. showing strict self discipline… …   English World dictionary

  • Austère — Austère, (frz. ostär) finster, streng, mürrisch; Austerität, austerité, Ernst, Strenge, finsteres Wesen …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • austere — index astringent, bitter (penetrating), bleak (severely simple), caustic, draconian, harsh, rigid, severe …   Law dictionary

  • austere — *severe, stern, ascetic Analogous words: bald, *bare: unembellished, unadorned, unornamented, undecorated (see affirmative verbs at ADORN): dispassionate (see FAIR): rigorous, strict (see RIGID): grave, somber, *serious, sober, earnest Antonyms:… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • austere — Austere, Austerus …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

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