- Today's Word
Unprepossessing
un-pree-puh-ZESS-ing
Definition
(adjective) Not attractive or impressive in appearance.
Example
Though unprepossessing at first glance, the restaurant had incredible food.
Fun Fact
Despite its long-winded look, unprepossessing is often used for things that don’t stand out at first—but might surprise you later. It’s frequently used in restaurant reviews, character descriptions, or travel writing, where something modest turns out to be memorable. The irony? The word itself isn’t very prepossessing—but its specificity gives it staying power.
(adjective) Severe or strict in manner or appearance; having no comforts or luxuries; pleasingly simple and unadorned.
The monastery’s austere design — bare stone walls, minimal furniture, and no decoration — was intentional, meant to keep the monks focused on contemplation rather than comfort.
Austere comes from the Greek austēros, meaning “harsh” or “rough to the taste,” originally used to describe the bitter, drying quality of unripe fruit. The word passed into Latin as austerus and then into Old French before arriving in English in the 14th century. Its early use referred to physical sensations before expanding to describe strict, unadorned behavior and environments.