austerity
Other forms: austerities
If you've ever had a teacher who was particularly stern and strict, you might have (quietly) remarked on his austerity. When you're talking about the character of a person, austerity means "sternness and severity."
Austerity's original meaning, taken from the Greek word austeros, was "bitter or harsh taste." While it's rarely used that way anymore, it's still a great description of the word's current meanings. As well as describing a personal quality of sternness, it also means "a simple, plain manner" and "an extreme frugality." So you could talk about the austerity of a very plainly decorated room or the austerity you're forced to live with ever since your parents stopped giving you a weekly allowance. If your lack of money had a taste, it might very well be "bitter or harsh."
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excessive sternness
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synonyms:
hardness, harshness, inclemency, rigor, rigorousness, rigour, rigourousness, severeness, severity, stiffness
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type of:
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sternness, strictness
uncompromising resolution
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sternness, strictness
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the trait of great self-denial (especially refraining from worldly pleasures)
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synonyms:
asceticism, nonindulgence
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types:
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monasticism
asceticism as a form of religious life; usually conducted in a community under a common rule and characterized by celibacy and poverty and obedience
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eremitism
monasticism characterized by solitude in which the social dimension of life is sacrificed to the primacy of religious experience
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type of:
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self-denial, self-discipline
the trait of practicing self discipline
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monasticism
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extreme plainness
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synonyms:
austereness, severeness, severity
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type of:
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plainness
the appearance of being plain and unpretentious
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plainness
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a policy of drastically reducing government spending
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type of:
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policy
a line of argument rationalizing the course of action of a government
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policy
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Vocabulary lists containing austerity
In this collection of twelve essays, the leader of New England's transcendentalist movement shares his philosophical ideas on different aspects of mid-nineteenth-century life. Read the full text here.
From 1952 to 2022, Queen Elizabeth II held the longest verified reign of any female monarch in history (70 years, 214 days). During her reign, she was regnant monarch of as many as 32 sovereign states, over which time the number of her reigns varied as territories gained independence. With her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, she raised four children, of which her eldest, Charles III, succeeded her as King. Significant life events, too numerous to recount, included her coronation, historic visits to China, Russia, and Ireland, five papal meetings, four jubilees, and the tragic death of Princess Diana. Through quotes and interviews this tribute list highlights Elizabeth II as monarch, head of state, and mother.
After a member of the royal court is murdered, half-dragon musical prodigy Seraphina gets drawn into the investigation and uncovers a plot to destroy peace in the kingdom of Goredd.
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