different between acerbity vs acerb

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French acerbité, from Latin acerbit?s (“acerbity; harshness”), from acerbus (“bitter”). See acerb.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??s??b?ti/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??s?b?di/

Noun

acerbity (countable and uncountable, plural acerbities)

1. Sourness of taste, with bitterness and astringency, like that of unripe fruit.
2. Harshness, bitterness, or severity

Translations

References

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

Anagrams

• cyberati

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