Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Extremely rigid in self-denial and devotion; austere; severe. 2. (n.) In the early church, one who devoted himself to a solitary and contemplative life, characterized by devotion, extreme self-denial, and self-mortification; a hermit; a recluse; hence, one who practices extreme rigor and self-denial in religious things.

Multi-Version Concordance Ascetic (1 Occurrence) Colossians 2:23 These rules have indeed an appearance of wisdom where self-imposed worship exists, and an affectation of humility and an ascetic severity. But not one of them is of any value in combating the indulgence of our lower natures. (WEY)