n.

1. 严厉；严格；严酷[U]
   A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life.

   他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。

2. 朴素，朴实[U]
3. 苦行，禁欲生活[P]
   early Christian austerities

   早期基督教徒的苦行

4. 紧缩，严格的节制消费[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.

   虽然有些国家已经欠了不少外债，不少人仍然认为缩减开支不是解决财务危机的方法。