n.

1. 嚴厲；嚴格；嚴酷[U]
   A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life.

   他對現代生活的批評帶著一種特殊的苛刻。

2. 樸素，樸實[U]
3. 苦行，禁慾生活[P]
   early Christian austerities

   早期基督教徒的苦行

4. 緊縮，擲節，度小月[U]
   Although some company has accumulated a large number of foreign debts, many people still do not think the solution to financial crisis lies in austerity.

   雖然有些國家已經欠了不少外債，不少人仍然認為緊縮開支不是解決財務危機的方法。