Webster's English Dictionary

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ascetic

Cross references:
  1. severe                
 
as.cet.ic \*-'set-ik\ \-i-k*l\ \-k(*-)le-\ \*-'set-*-.siz-*m\ aj [Gk 
   aske-tikos, lit., laborious, fr. aske-te-s one that ex]ercises, hermit, fr. 
   askein to work, exercise : practicing strict self-denial as a means of 
   religious discipline; also : AUSTERE - ascetic n