austere

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)

1. Grim or severe in manner or appearance

   The headmistress was an austere old woman.

2. Lacking trivial decoration; not extravagant or gaudy

   The interior of the church was as austere as the parishioners were dour.

Adjective

austere f pl

1. Feminine plural of adjective austero.

Adjective

austēre

1. vocative masculine singular of austērus

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

Etymology

Perhaps related to Ancient Greek ὄστρεον (óstreon).

Pronunciation

Noun

austere f (5th declension)

1. oyster (certain edible bivalve mollusks of the order Ostreida)

   austeru zveja ― oyster fishing

   rīt austeres ― to swallow oysters

   austeru lasītāji un lasītājas tur brida kailām kājām ― male and female oyster collectors were wading there (= in shallow water) barefoot

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin austērus.

Adjective

austere m, f (plural austeres)

1. austere; severe

Alternative forms

• haustere
• auster (masculine only)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin austērus.

Adjective

austere m (oblique and nominative feminine singular austere)

1. (of a flavor) acrid; bitter
2. austere; severe