Austerities

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Austerity \Aus*ter"i*ty\, n.; pl. {Austerities}. [F.
     aust['e]rit['e], L. austerias, fr. austerus. See {Austere}.]
     1. Sourness and harshness to the taste. [Obs.] --Horsley.
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     2. Severity of manners or life; extreme rigor or strictness;


        harsh discipline.
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              The austerity of John the Baptist.    --Milton.
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     3. Plainness; freedom from adornment; severe simplicity.
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              Partly owing to the studied austerity of her dress,
              and partly to the lack of demonstration in her
              manners.                              --Hawthorne.
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