austērĭtas, ātis, f. [austerus] (perh. not before the Aug. period).
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.