different between stiffness vs austerity

English

Etymology

From Middle English stiffenes, styffenesse, styfnesse; equivalent to stiff +? -ness. Perhaps merging with Middle English stithnesse, stithnysse, from Old English st?þness (“stiffness”).

Noun

stiffness (countable and uncountable, plural stiffnesses)

1. Rigidity or a measure of rigidity.
2. Inflexibility or a measure of inflexibility.
3. Inelegance; a lack of relaxedness.
   • 1699, William Temple, Heads designed for an essay on conversations

     Study gives strength to the mind; conversation, grace: the first apt to give stiffness, the other suppleness: one gives substance and form to the statue, the other polishes it.

4. Muscular tension due to unaccustomed or excessive exercise or work; soreness.

Translations

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ?????????? (aust?rót?s, “bitter, harsh”).

Morphologically austere +? -ity

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /??st???ti/, enPR: ôst?r??t?

Noun

austerity (countable and uncountable, plural austerities)

1. Severity of manners or life; extreme rigor or strictness; harsh discipline.
2. Freedom from adornment; plainness; severe simplicity.
3. (economics) A policy of deficit-cutting, which by definition requires lower spending, higher taxes, or both.
4. (obsolete) Sourness and harshness to the taste.

Antonyms

• (severity of manners or life): comfort

Related terms

• austere
• austerely
• austeriate

Translations

References

• austerity in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from English austerity.

Noun

austerity f (invariable)

1. austerity