Dictionary
aus•ter•i•ty
Pronunciation: (ô-ster'i-tē), [key]—
n.,
—pl. -ties.
1. austere quality; severity of manner, life, etc.; sternness.
2. Usually,
austerities. ascetic practices:
austerities of monastery life.
3. strict economy.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.