austere
[ɔ'stɪr]
a. 严峻, 禁欲, 简朴

1. Monks are leading simple, austere lives.
   僧侣着清苦活。
2. The room was furnished in austere style.
   屋设简单朴素。
3. Pure or simple in design or style; austere.
   朴朴简单；质朴

austere
[ adj ]

1. severely simple

<adj.all>
a stark interior

2. of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect

<adj.all>
an austere expression
a stern face

3. practicing great self-denial

<adj.all>
Be systematically ascetic...do...something for no other reason than that you would rather not do it
a desert nomad's austere life
a spartan diet
a spartan existence

Austere \Aus*tere"\, [F. aust[`e]re, L. austerus, fr. Gr. ?, fr.
? to parch, dry. Cf. {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.