ascetic English · revision 1222

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈsɛ.tɪk/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|ἀσκητικός|tr=askētikós|t=laborious, rigorously self-disciplined]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''askētḗs'' “one who exercises; hermit, monk”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''askeîn'' “to work, exercise, train”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) Before meaning a monk, ''askētḗs'' meant one who practises an art or trade, and especially an athlete in training.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As an adjective, practising rigorous self-denial as a religious exercise (1646).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Stoics applied the Greek word to the control of appetites and passions as the path to virtue, and the early Christians took it over from them.^(Etymonline) The noun, one who is rigorous in self-denial, is recorded from 1660,^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and from 1673 it named the early Christians who withdrew into solitude to live lives of prayer and self-denial.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1610s – ''ascetical''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1646 – adjective, severely abstinent, and ''asceticism''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1660 – noun, one rigorous in self-denial.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1673 – noun, one of the early Christian hermits.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who gives up material comforts and lives a life of strict [[self-discipline]], especially for religious reasons.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # In the early Christian church, a [[monk]] or [[hermit]].^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Practising strict [[self-denial]] for spiritual or personal discipline.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[austere|alt=Austere]] and severe in appearance, manner or way of life.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ascetically]]

+ * [[asceticism]]

+ * [[unascetic]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[askesis]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''anchorite'', ''recluse'' and ''cenobite'' as synonyms of the noun, ''strict'', ''frugal'' and ''plain'' as synonyms of the adjective, and ''self-indulgent'' as its antonym.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}