austere etymology

Etymology:

• Late Latin austērus ("harsh, severe")
• Greek austēros ("dry, harsh")
• Proto-Indo-European root *aw- ("to burn")

Meaning:

Austere refers to something that is:

• Plain, simple, and unadorned
• Stern, harsh, or severe
• Unyielding or unforgiving
• Morally strict or ascetic

Origin:

The word "austere" entered English in the mid-16th century from Latin. It is related to the Greek word austēros, which originally meant "dry" or "harsh." This sense of dryness was later extended to include a lack of ornamentation or embellishment, as well as a sense of severity or harshness. The Proto-Indo-European root *aw- is also seen in words such as "arid" and "burn," suggesting that the underlying concept of austerity is related to a sense of dryness and harshness.

austere relate terms

• sere

  Etymology Old English sere dry or withered Proto Germanic saizra Proto Indo E

• sear

  Etymology From Middle English sear from Old English sær from Proto Germanic _saira_

• austerity

  Etymology Austerity is derived from the Latin word austerus which means severe or

• austere

  Etymology Late Latin austērus harsh severe Greek austēros dry harsh Proto I

• ascetic

  Etymology The word ascetic derives from the Greek askētikos meaning pertaining to

• stern

  Etymology Stern comes from the Old English word steorra which means star Meanin

• severe

  Etymology Latin severus Proto Italic sehwero Proto Indo European sweh₂ró

• persevere

  Etymology French persévérer Latin perseverare Prefix per through Verb severa

• strait

  Etymology Old English stræt Proto Germanic straita Ultimately from Latin strata

• stoic

  Etymology The word stoic is derived from the Greek word Στωικός Stoikos wh

• Septembrist

  Etymology The word September originates from the Latin word septem meaning seven

• triage

  Etymology The word triage originates from the French verb trier which means to sort

• vernacular

  Vernacular Etymology Meaning A folk or common sense etymology that is not based on histo