Middle English Dictionary Entry
austēre, austē̆rne adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | austēre, austē̆rne adj. |
| Etymology | OF austere & L austērus (from Gr.); the common var. austē̆rne shows blending with ME stē̆rne . |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of persons, speech, manner: harsh, severe, stern; (b) rigorously moral, austere; (c) grim, fierce.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 19.21-2 : Thou art an austerne [L austerus] man; thou takist awey this thing which thou settist not, and thou repist this thing which thou has not sowe..I am an hausterne man.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.54 : Þei dred þe kyng folle sore, for he was fulle austere.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5235 : To deme al þe world, als I saide are, Crist ful awsterne þan sal be.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)6181 : Þan sal our loverd..spek til þam with an austerne chere.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)414 : Þe senatour askes Answere..with austeryn wordez.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)670 : As þow will answere before the austeryn jugge.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1976 : Antenor arghet with austerne wordes.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.137 : The Austere juge wille repe in place whare he noght sewe.
b
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.1 : He was an ypocrite, þat shewide him to þe world boþe austerne and clene, as worldly men done.
c
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.28 : Þese þre with þer powere Werred on Athelstan with oste fulle austere.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.263 : Þe folk he with him ches wer first auster & smerte.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1906 : Theis honourable knyghttez..Ioneke has nommen..austeren knyghttez.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2256 : All his austeryn oste þareofe ware affrayede.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5469 : So wel he bar hym & so auster, Þey wende hit were kyng Wyder.
2.
Harsh to the taste; astringent.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)76a/b : Metez þat ar austere i. felle [L austera] or stronge..som decoccioun of stipticus þingez..of auster i. haryske [*Ch.(2): sterne] wynez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)82b/a : Þe coccioun of an austere i. sharp [*Ch.(2): felle] herbe.