austere

aw-STEER, adjective

Severely plain; strict.

“The austere office had one chair, one desk, and no apologies.”

Where austere comes from

It first described a taste: harsh wine, fruit that dried out your mouth.

Difficulty: advanced. One of 440 entries written and checked by hand.

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ephemeral Lasting for a very short time.
pernicious Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.
capricious Given to sudden, unpredictable changes of mood or behavior.
gregarious Fond of company; sociable.
laconic Using very few words; terse to the point of seeming curt.
magnanimous Generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful.
obfuscate To deliberately make something unclear or difficult to understand.
sycophant A person who flatters the powerful to gain advantage.