Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
1,734,376,501 visitors served.
forum mailing list For webmasters
?
New: Language forums
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

acerbity

   Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
a·cer·bi·ty  (-sûrb-t)
n. pl. a·cer·bi·ties
Sourness or acidness of taste, character, or tone.
acerbity [əˈsɜːbɪtɪ]
n pl -ties
1. vitriolic or embittered speech, temper, etc.
2. sourness or bitterness of taste
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.acerbity - a sharp bitterness
bitter, bitterness - the property of having a harsh unpleasant taste
2.acerbityacerbity - a sharp sour taste                  
tartness
acidity, sourness, sour - the property of being acidic
3.acerbity - a rough and bitter manner
acrimony, bitterness, jaundice, thorniness, tartness
disagreeableness - an ill-tempered and offensive disposition
Translations
acerbity [əˈsɜːbɪtɪ] N
1. [of taste] → acritud f, aspereza f
2. (fig) → mordacidad f
acerbity [əˈsɜːrbɪti] n [humour, wit] → aigreur f
acerbity
n → Schärfe f


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
characterize by acidity or acerbity and sometimes by wisdom.
The Devil's Dictionary by Bierce, Ambrose View in context
The dove then turned up his coat-collar, and put on his cocked hat; and, having exchanged a long and affectionate embrace with his future partner, once again braved the cold wind of the night: merely pausing, for a few minutes, in the male paupers' ward, to abuse them a little, with the view of satisfying himself that he could fill the office of workhouse-master with needful acerbity.
Oliver Twist Or The Parish Boy's Progress by Dickens, Charles View in context
It is well known that great scholars who have shown the most pitiless acerbity in their criticism of other men's scholarship have yet been of a relenting and indulgent temper in private life; and I have heard of a learned man meekly rocking the twins in the cradle with his left hand, while with his right he inflicted the most lacerating sarcasms on an opponent who had betrayed a brutal ignorance of Hebrew.
Adam Bede by Eliot, George View in context
More results
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.