FromAncient Greekαὐστηρός(austērós,“bitter, harsh,astringent”), having the specific meaning “making the tongue dry” (originally used of fruits, wines), related toαὔω(aúō,“to singe”),αὖος(aûos,“dry”).

• (Received Pronunciation)IPA^(key):/ɒˈstɪə(ɹ)/,/ɔːˈstɪə(ɹ)/
• (General American)IPA^(key):/ɔˈstiɹ/,enPR:ôstēr′
  • (cot–caught merger)IPA^(key):/ɑˈstiɹ/

• Audio(US):

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• Rhymes:-ɪə(ɹ)

austere (comparativeaustererormoreaustere,superlativeausterestormostaustere)

1. Grim or severe in manner or appearance.

   Synonyms:stern,strict,forbidding,ascetic;see alsoThesaurus:stern

   The headmistress was anaustere old woman.

2. Lackingdecoration;trivial; notextravagant orgaudy.

   Synonyms:simple,plain,unadorned,unembellished;see alsoThesaurus:unadorned

   Antonyms:overwrought,flamboyant,extravagant,gaudy,flashy;see alsoThesaurus:gaudy

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

3. Adhering to the economic policy ofausterity.
   • 2024 December 14, Reece Martin, “Learning from Melbourne’s Level Crossing Removal Project” (9:05 from the start), inRMTransit‎^[1]:

     Counterintuitively, in an effort to beaustere and save money, cities which only remove a crossing every couple of years manage to be way less efficient at it than Melbourne has been.

• IPA^(key):/awˈstɛ.re/
• Rhymes:-ɛre
• Hyphenation:au‧stè‧re

austere

1. feminineplural ofaustero

• (Classical Latin)IPA^(key):/au̯sˈteː.re/,[äu̯s̠ˈt̪eːrɛ]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical)IPA^(key):/au̯sˈte.re/,[äu̯sˈt̪ɛːre]

austēre

1. vocativemasculinesingular ofaustērus

• “austere”, inCharlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879)A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “austere”, inCharlton T. Lewis (1891)An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers

(Thisetymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at theEtymology scriptorium.)Perhaps related toAncient Greekὄστρεον(óstreon).

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austere f (5th declension)

1. oyster(certainediblebivalvemollusks of theorderOstreida)

   austeru zveja ―oyster fishing

   rītausteres ―to swallowoysters

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

Borrowed fromLatinaustērus.

austere m orf (pluralausteres)

1. austere;severe

• haustere
• auster(masculine only)

Borrowed fromLatinaustērus.

austere m (oblique and nominative feminine singularaustere)

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