(adjective) : austērus, a, um, (auster, Scrib. Comp. 188;
* Sup. austerrimus, Messala, Corv. Progen. Aug. 5), = αὐστηρός.
* Lit, of taste, harsh, sour, tart (not before the Aug. per.; syn.: acer, acerbus, tristis, severus, molestus): vinum nigrum,Cels. 3, 24: austerior gustus,Col. 12, 12, 2: herba austero sapore,Plin. 25, 5, 20, § 45: vinum austerissimum,Scrib. Comp. 142.
* Transf. *
* Trop.
* Of color, deep, dark: sunt autem colores austeri aut floridi,Plin. 35, 6, 12, § 30.—Comp.: (pictor) austerior colore et in austeritate jucundior,Plin. 35, 11, 40, § 134.
* Severe, rigid, strict, stern, austere (opp. mol lis, facilis, lenis; scarcely before Cic.): illo austero more ac modo,Cic. Cael. 14, 33; id. de Or. 3, 25, 98: austerior et gravior esse potuisset,id. Pis. 29, 71: Nec gravis austeri poena cavenda viri,Prop. 4, 13, 24: homo austerus es,Vulg. Luc. 19, 21; 19, 22.—Of discourse, severe, grave, serious: ita sit noLis ornatus et suavis orator, ut suavitatem habeat austeram et solidam, non dulcem atque decoctam (the epithet borrowed from wine),that he may have a severe and solid, not a luscious and effeminate sweetness,Cic. de Or. 3, 26, 103: austera poëmata,Hor. A. P. 342: oratio,Quint. 9, 4, 128 Spald.—Of style in statuary: genus,Plin. 34, 8, 19, § 66.
* As the opp. of kind, pleasant, severe, gloomy, sad, troublesome, hard, irksome (so first after the beginning of the Aug. per.): labor,Hor. S. 2, 2, 12: Quaelibet austeras de me ferat urna tabellas,Prop. 5, 11, 49: aeger omnem austeram curationem recusans,Plin. 24, 7, 28, § 43.—Adv.:

s. TLL