adj. 1. pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic ascetical practices Syn. -- ascetic [ WordNet 1.5 ]
2. practicing great self-denial. Syn. -- ascetic, austere, spartan [ WordNet 1.5 ]
Be systematically ascetic . . . do . . . something for no other reason than that you would rather not do it. William James. [ 1913 Webster ]