Ascetic
/əˈsɛtɪk/noun
A person who practices severe self-discipline and avoids luxury, often for religious reasons.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Greek askētḗs, meaning a trained exerciser or monastic practitioner, from askeîn, originally “to work or practice,” so holiness and discipline were once linguistically tied to athletic training.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
askḗsis
“Training, practice, exercise”
Ancient Greek
Greek
askētḗs
“One who trains or practices; later, a religious recluse”
Late Latin
Latin
ascēta
“An ascetic, especially a monk or hermit”
Middle French
French
ascétique
“Pertaining to severe self-discipline or monastic life”
Late Middle English
English
ascetic
“A person who practices severe self-denial”