Lewis & Short

† austērus, a, um, adj. (auster, Scrib. Comp. 188; sup. austerrimus, Messala, Corv. Progen. Aug. 5), = αὐστηρός.

  1. I.
    1. A. 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.
    2. B. Transf.
      1. * 1. Of smell, pungent: balsami sucus: odore austerus, Plin. 12, 25, 54, § 120.
      2. 2. 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.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. 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.
    2. B. 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.: