spartan
/ˈspɑɹtən/ adjective, noun
Forms Spartans
- adjective Austere, frugal, characterized by self-denial. “I went on the retreat to the monastery, thinking I would be sleeping in a spartan cell, only to discover a simple but comfortable bedroom.”
- adjective Resolute in the face of danger or adversity. “The spartan legionaries vowed to fight to the death.”
- adjective Lacking in decoration and luxury. “After ten years as a fashion designer in the rough-and-tumble Garment District, Eloise left New York for the spartan but serene life of a farmer's wife.”
- noun A citizen of Sparta; a native or inhabitant of Sparta.
- noun A red apple cultivar from British Columbia, Canada.
- adjective Of or relating to Sparta or its citizens.
Synonyms
plain simple austere bare chaste inornate modest quiet severe unadorned unembellished unextravagant unornamented undecked ungarnished untrimmed unvarnished Spartiate ascetic ascetical
Etymology
By analogy with the ancient Spartans, who famously possessed these qualities.
From Middle English Spartan, Spertan, from Latin Spartānus, from Sparta + -ānus, equivalent to Sparta + -an.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective of or pertaining to Sparta, especially to ancient Sparta; hence, hardy; undaunted; as, Spartan souls; Spartan bravey.
- adjective A native or inhabitant of Sparta; figuratively, a person of great courage and fortitude.
Etymology [L. Spartanus.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “spartan”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details