austere
pronunciation
How to pronounce austere in British English:
UK [ɒˈstɪə(r)]
How to pronounce austere in American English:
US [ɔˈstɪr]
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- Adjective:
- severely simple
- of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
- practicing great self-denial
Word Origin
- austere (adj.)
- early 14c., from Old French austere (Modern French austère) and directly from Latin austerus "dry, harsh, sour, tart," from Greek austeros "bitter, harsh," especially "making the tongue dry" (originally used of fruits, wines), metaphorically "austere, harsh," from PIE *saus- "dry" (cognates: Greek auos "dry," auein "to dry"). Use in English is figurative: "stern, severe, very simple." Related: Austerely.
Example
- 1. Rwanda 's austere president , paul kagame , believes the initial outlay will be worth it .
- 2. Few chinese traveled for fun and those that did had to choose between austere government-run guesthouses and pricey western-style hotels .
- 3. But clarity has won the argument with voters , who recognise cuts are inevitable and still prefer the austere tories to free-spending labour .
- 4. They were friendly but refreshingly reserved toward her ; a beautiful face didn 't place very high on the scale of austere new england values .
- 5. My father is a silent , austere man .