plural austerities
Definition of austerity
1
: the quality or state of being austere: such as
a
: a stern and serious quality
the formal austerity of his manner
b
: a plain and simple quality
the austerity of the design
2
: enforced or extreme economy especially on a national scale
lived through years of austerity after the war fiscal austerity a series of austerity measures [=measures taken to reduce spending]
3a
: an austere act, manner, or attitude
monastic self-denial and austerities
b
: an ascetic (see ascetic sense 1) practice
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for austerity
The first known use of austerity was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century