From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishaustereaus‧tere /ɔːˈstɪə, ɒ- $ ɒːˈstɪr/ ●○○ adjective 1 SIMPLE/PLAINplain and simple and without any decoration the church’s austere simplicity2 STRICTsomeone who is austere is very strict and serious – used to show disapproval Her father is a very austere man.3 STRICTan 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
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” 