Luke 19:21

I feared (epoboumhn). Imperfect middle, I continued to fear. Austere (austhro). Old Greek word from auw, to dry up. Reproduced in Latin austeros and English austere. It means rough to the taste, stringent. Here only in the N.T. Compare sklhro (hard) in Matthew 25:24 . "Harsh in flavour, then in disposition" (Bruce). Thou layedst not down (ouk eqhka). Probably a proverb for a grasping profiteer.