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n. A person who renounces material comforts and leads a life of austere self-discipline, especially as an act of religious devotion. adj. Relating to, characteristic of, or leading a life of self-discipline and self-denial, especially for spiritual improvement. See Synonyms at severe. [Late Greek askētikos, from Greek askētēs, practitioner, hermit, monk, from askein, to work.] as·ceti·cal·ly adv. |
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