Meaning

noun the doctrine that through renunciation of worldly pleasures it is possible to achieve a high spiritual or intellectual state

noun the trait of great self-denial (especially refraining from worldly pleasures)

noun rigorous self-denial and active self-restraint

originEtymology tree Ancient Greek ἀσκέω (askéō) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek ἀσκητής (askētḗs) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ικός (-ikós) Ancient Greek ἀσκητῐκός (askētĭkós)der. Medieval Latin asceticusbor. English ascetic Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0