ascetic, ascetical, austere, spartan
(adjective) practicing great self-denial; “Be systematically ascetic...do...something for no other reason than that you would rather not do it”- William James; “a desert nomad’s austere life”; “a spartan diet”; “a spartan existence”
austere, stern
(adjective) of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect; “an austere expression”; “a stern face”
austere, severe, stark, stern
(adjective) severely simple; “a stark interior”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
austere (comparative austerer or more austere, superlative austerest or most austere)
Grim or severe in manner or appearance
Lacking trivial decoration; not extravagant or gaudy
• (grim or severe): stern, strict, forbidding
• (lacking trivial decoration): simple, plain, unadorned, unembellished
• (not lacking trivial decoration): overwrought, flamboyant, extravagant, gaudy, flashy
Source: Wiktionary
Aus*tere", Etym: [F. austère, L. austerus, fr. Gr. Sear.]
1. Sour and astringent; rough to the state; having acerbity; as, an austere crab apple; austere wine.
2. Severe in modes of judging, or living, or acting; rigid; rigorous; stern; as, an austere man, look, life. From whom the austere Etrurian virtue rose. Dryden.
3. Unadorned; unembellished; severely simple.
Syn.
– Harsh; sour; rough; rigid; stern; severe; rigorous; strict.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
28 May 2025
(noun) a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing; “an air of mystery”; “the house had a neglected air”; “an atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate’s headquarters”; “the place had an aura of romance”
Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.
