noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/əˈsiːsɪs/
Received-Pronunciation:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/əˈsisɪs/
General-American:/æ-/
uncommon:/əˈskiːsɪs/
uncommon:/æ-/
rhymes with -iːsɪs
1
noun
Meaning 1
self-discipline, particularly as a religious observance; asceticism.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Qualifier: Rigorous
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The praxis or "exercise" of asceticism and self-denial of impulses or passions for the sake of piety, theosis, and connection with God.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, specifically, uncountable
Qualifier: chiefly Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholicism
Topics: Christianity
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
rigorous self-denial and active self-restraint
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Learned borrowing from Late Latin ascesis, or directly from its etymon, Ancient Greek ἄσκησις (áskēsis, “exercise, training”), from ἀσκέω (askéō, “to exercise, practise, train”) + -σῐς (-sĭs, suffix forming abstract nouns or nouns of action, result or process).
Across languages
Translations
25 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
ascesi
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Chinese Mandarin:
禁慾 /禁欲
(jìnyù)
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Chinese Mandarin:
苦行
(kǔxíng)
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Danish:
askese
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Dutch:
ascese
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Dutch:
verzaking
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Esperanto:
asketismo
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Finnish:
askeesi
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
French:
ascèse
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
German:
Askese
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Hungarian:
aszketizmus
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Hungarian:
aszkézis
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Ido:
asketeso
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Ido:
asketismo
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Italian:
ascese
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Japanese:
禁欲
(kin'yoku)
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Northern Kurdish:
sofîtî
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Northern Kurdish:
zahidî
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Polish:
asceza
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Portuguese:
ascese
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Romanian:
asceză
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Russian:
аске́за
(askéza)
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Swedish:
askes
— (rigorous) self-discipline — see also asceticism
Hungarian:
aszkézis
— praxis or “exercise” of asceticism and self-denial of impulses or passions
Russian:
аске́за
(askéza)
— praxis or “exercise” of asceticism and self-denial of impulses or passions
