I.sup. austerrimus, Messala, Corv. Progen. Aug. 5), = αὐστηρός.
I. 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.—
B. Transf. *
1. Of smell, pungent: “balsami sucus: odore austerus,” Plin. 12, 25, 54, § 120.—
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.—
II. Trop.
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.—
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.: