Austere
[ɒ'stɪə;ɔː-] or [ɔ'stɪr]
Definition
(adj.) of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect; 'an austere expression'; 'a stern face' .
(adj.) severely simple; 'a stark interior' .
Checker: Paulette--From WordNet
Definition
(-) Sour and astringent; rough to the state; having acerbity; as, an austere crab apple; austere wine.
(-) Severe in modes of judging, or living, or acting; rigid; rigorous; stern; as, an austere man, look, life.
(-) Unadorned; unembellished; severely simple.
Editor: Nat
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. [1]. Rough (to the taste), sour and astringent.[2]. Severe, rigid, strict, formal, stiff, rigorous, harsh, stern, difficult, hard, uncompromising, unrelenting, relentless, ascetic, straight-laced.
Editor: Wilma
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Hard, rigid, stern, severe, morose, unrelenting, unyielding, strict, rigorous,harsh, sour, relentless
ANT:Mild, affable, kindly, tender, feeling, bland, {[inaalgent]?}, genial
Inputed by Delia
Definition
adj. harsh: severe: stern: grave: sober: severe in self-discipline strictly moral or abstinent: severely simple without luxury.—adv. Austere′ly.—ns. Austere′ness Auster′ity quality of being austere: severity of manners or life: harshness: asceticism: severe simplicity of style dress or habits.
Typist: Marvin
Examples
- As the gleam of the street-lamps flashed upon his austere features, I saw that his brows were drawn down in thought and his thin lips compressed. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- He was an austere man, and I was afraid of him. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- He was a large, austere man, and I judge difficult of approach to his subordinates. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- That morning I was disposed for silence: the austere fury of the winter-day had on me an awing, hushing influence. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- With a sudden darkening of the eye and austere fixing of the features she demanded, Have you been asked to interfere? Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- A dark little man he certainly was; pungent and austere. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- The austere system of morality has, accordingly, been adopted by those sects almost constantly, or with very few exceptions; for there have been some. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Matthewson Helstone I knew, if an austere, was an upright man. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- On the contrary, his austere face was even more severe than usual as he commented upon the things that I had done and the things that I had not. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- Their austere disregard of this life found some support in a noble teaching of the Stoic ph ilosophy that death itself is no evil to the just man. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- I wondered if she would justify her renown: with strange curiosity, with feelings severe and austere, yet of riveted interest, I waited. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Joseph Emanuel had arrived, as well as his austere brother, and at this very moment was relieving Ginevra at the piano. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- The gloomy taint that was in the Murdstone blood, darkened the Murdstone religion, which was austere and wrathful. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- An austere patriot's passion for his fatherland! Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- In the austere system, on the contrary, those excesses are regarded with the utmost abhorrence and detestation. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Then the strong, soothing hand of the austere maid drew her head down on to the cushion, and the wild anger died away into passionate sobbing. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- As she patted the dog's head, bending with native grace before his young and austere master, I saw a glow rise to that master's face. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- Why am I austere and shy? Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- As Shirley had said, a certain hardness characterized his air, while his eye was excited, but austere. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Even the scenery is austere. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- The one, austere, high-nosed, eagle-eyed, and dominant, was none other than the illustrious Lord Bellinger, twice Premier of Britain. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
Typist: Marvin