different between acerbate vs acerb

English

Etymology

From Latin acerb?tus, perfect passive participle of acerb? (“make bitter”), from acerbus (“bitter”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?a.s?.be?t/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?æ.s???be?t/, ASS-uhr-bait

Adjective

acerbate (comparative more acerbate, superlative most acerbate)

1. (rare) Embittered; having a sour disposition or nature.

Verb

acerbate (third-person singular simple present acerbates, present participle acerbating, simple past and past participle acerbated)

1. (transitive) To exasperate; to irritate.
2. (transitive) To make bitter or sour.

Synonyms

• (exasperate): provoke
• (make bitter): sour, embitter

Derived terms

• acerbation
• exacerbate

Translations

References

• acerbate at OneLook Dictionary Search

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /a.ker?ba?.te/, [äk?r?bä?t??]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /a.t??er?ba.te/, [?t???r?b??t??]

Verb

acerb?te

1. second-person plural present active imperative of acerb?

English

Etymology

Latin acerbus, from Latin ?cer (“sharp”): compare French acerbe. See acrid.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??s??b/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??s??b/

Adjective

acerb (comparative acerber or more acerb, superlative acerbest or most acerb)

1. (archaic) Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, as unripe fruit.

   Synonym: acerbic
2. (archaic, figuratively) Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself.

   Synonym: acerbic

   • 1909, Canada. Parliament. House of Commons, Debates: Official Report (volume 1, page 1970)

     As to the somewhat acerb remarks of the member for Jacques Cartier, I may pass them over […]

Related terms

• acerbate
• acerbically
• acerbity
• exacerbate

Translations

References

• acerb in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• Brace, brace, caber, cabre, cabré

Romanian

Etymology

From French acerbe, from Latin acerbus.

Adjective

acerb m or n (feminine singular acerb?, masculine plural acerbi, feminine and neuter plural acerbe)

1. harsh, unkind

Declension