adjective
- severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance.
- (of living conditions or a way of life) having no comforts or luxuries; harsh or ascetic.
- having an extremely plain and simple style or appearance; unadorned.
“Meanwhile the day had become much lighter; part of the endless, grey-black building on the other side of the street – which was a hospital – could be seen quite clearly with the austere and regular line of windows piercing its facade..”
In Frank Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”
Describing his setting, it shows us how it was to be confined to that room.
