/ əˈsetɪk; NAmE / adjective
[ usually before noun ] not allowing yourself physical pleasures, especially for religious reasons; related to a simple and strict way of living :
The monks lived a very ascetic life.
► as·cet·ic noun :
monks, hermits and ascetics
► as·ceti·cism / əˈsetɪsɪzəm; NAmE / noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin asceticus or Greek askētikos , from askētēs monk, from askein to exercise.