austere
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++aus·tere /ɔːˈstɪə, ɒ- $ ɒːˈstɪr/ ●○○ adjective 1 SIMPLE/PLAINplain and simple and without any decoration 朴实的，质朴的 the church’s austere simplicity 那座教堂的朴实无华2 STRICTsomeone who is austere is very strict and serious – used to show disapproval 严肃的，严厉的〔含贬义〕 Her father is a very austere man. 她的父亲很严肃。3 STRICTan austere way of life is very simple and has few things to make it comfortable or enjoyable 简朴的，苦行的 Cuthbert led an austere life of prayer and solitude. 卡斯伯特过着祈祷和独居的苦行生活。 —austerely adverb
Examples from the Corpus
austere• The crematorium chapel was cold and austere.• August was reserved for Henderson House, where Grandmother Robinson presided with austere benevolence.• Then she would do housework, but it was such an austere cottage that there was hardly anything to do.• Greene chose the life of an émigré, had an austere dedication to the life of the writer, avoided all publicity.• Before the coarse brown fabric hung an austere gibbet, constructed of two weathered wooden beams.• On the opposite wall, a print was mounted; an austere graphic design, white and grey to match.• Students ate in an austere hall built by New England Puritans.• These strict and prudish ideals were those of the austere Hejaz merchants.• It's a very austere movie, filmed largely in semi-darkness and featuring a morose baroque soundtrack.• He later developed austere personal habits, his brother recalled.• an austere style of painting• a cold, austere womanOrigin austere (1300-1400) Latin austerus, from Greek austeros “severe”aus·tere adjectiveChineseSyllable
any and decoration Corpus plain simple and without
austere
aus‧tere /ɔːˈstɪə, ɒ- $ ɒːˈstɪr/
adjective
the church’s austere simplicity
2. someone who is austere is very strict and serious – used to show disapproval:
Her father is a very austere man.
3. an austere way of life is very simple and has few things to make it comfortable or enjoyable:
Cuthbert led an austere life of prayer and solitude.
—austerely adverb
▪ plain without anything added, or without decoration: a plain shirt | The fireplace was plain apart from a small design at the top.
▪simple not having a lot of decoration or unnecessary things, but attractive: She was wearing a simple black dress. | The accommodation is simple but clean.
▪austere very plain and with very little decoration, or very little in it – used about a room or place that does not make you feel welcome: He dreaded having dinner in that austere dining room. | The building was grey and a little austere. | the austere beauty and grandeur of mountain scenery
▪spartan plain and without anything that would make life easier or more comfortable – used especially about rooms, conditions, or ways of living: Her apartment is quite spartan. | They had a very spartan life.
▪stark very plain in a surprising way, with very little colour or decoration – used about rooms and places: Sam sat looking at the stark white walls. | It is a landscape of stark beauty.
▪bare empty, or not covered by any decorations: Her office seemed very bare now that her desk had gone. | He was tired of looking at the bare walls of his prison cell.
aus‧tere /ɔːˈstɪə, ɒ- $ ɒːˈstɪr/
adjective Date: 1300-1400
Language: Latin
Origin: austerus, from Greek austeros 'severe'
1. plain and simple and without any decoration:Language: Latin
Origin: austerus, from Greek austeros 'severe'
2. someone who is austere is very strict and serious – used to show disapproval:
3. an austere way of life is very simple and has few things to make it comfortable or enjoyable:
—austerely adverb
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