This is the 8692nd most frequent French word.
austère
Strict, severe, or plain.
Here, 'austère' describes the professor's demeanor, implying seriousness or strictness without warmth.
Le professeur semblait austère mais était en réalité très gentil.
The teacher seemed austere but was actually very kind.
In this sentence, 'austère' characterizes the room's decoration as plain or lacking embellishment.
Le décor de la pièce était austère, sans aucune décoration colorée.
The room's decor was austere, without any colorful decorations.
Here, 'austère' conveys a lifestyle characterized by simplicity and minimalism, without indulgence.