I. Lit.
A. Of taste, harshness, sourness (syn.: “acerbitas, tristitia, severitas),” Col. 11, 2, 68: “vini,” Plin. 14, 2, 4, § 24; 14, 6, 8, § 65: “caepae,” id. 19, 6, 32, § 105: “picis,” id. 14, 1, 3, § 17; Pall. 1, 35, 11; and in plur., id. 1, 35, 8.—
B. Of colors, darkness, dinginess, Plin. 35, 10, 36, § 97; 9, 38, 62, § 134; 35, 10, 36, § 97; 35, 11, 40, § 134.—
II. Trop., severity, austerity, rigor: “magistri,” Quint. 2, 2, 5: “qui a te hanc austeritatem exigo,” Plin. Ep. 2, 5, 5: “cum austeritate imperare,” Vulg. Ezech. 34, 4: “ex bono esse austeritatem,” ib. 2 Macc. 14, 30.