1. pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic or the practice of rigorous self-discipline - ascetic practices • Syn: ascetical • Pertains to noun: ascetic (for: ascetical) • Derivationally related forms: ascetic (for: ascetical) 2. practicing great self-denial - "Be systematically ascetic...do...something for no other reason than that you would rather not do it"- William James - a desert nomad's austere life - a spartan diet - a spartan existence • Syn: ascetical, austere, spartan • Similar to: abstemious • Derivationally related forms: austerity (for: austere), ascetic (for: ascetical)