ASPERITY • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Asperity

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/əspˈɛrɪti/ Listen

noun

Asperity n. (pl. asperities)

Roughness of surface; unevenness; opposed to smoothness. "The asperities of dry bodies."

Roughness or harshness of sound; that quality which grates upon the ear; raucity.

Roughness to the taste; sourness; tartness.

Moral roughness; roughness of manner; severity; crabbedness; harshness; opposed to mildness. "Asperity of character." "It is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received."

Sharpness; disagreeableness; difficulty. "The acclivities and asperities of duty."

Synonyms: Acrimony; moroseness; crabbedness; harshness; sourness; tartness. See Acrimony.

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Etymology of 'Asperity'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Asperity" Quotes from Famous Books

... had the sort of strangeness in her ideas which is often noticeable in characters that have developed late, in savages, who think much and speak little. Her peasant's wit had acquired a good deal of Parisian asperity from hearing the talk of workshops and mixing with workmen and workwomen. She, whose character had a marked resemblance to that of the Corsicans, worked upon without fruition by the instincts of a strong nature, would have liked ...

— Poor Relations • Honore de Balzac

... Office was not the fit department to control a colony (as had been urged in the case of Cyprus). He notes: 'Gambetta tells me that he has at once had an application from a similar French Company—for the New Hebrides.' Lord Granville made official reply, with some asperity. But he sent a separate unofficial letter, in which, after treating of other matters, he smoothed over his more formal communication. These letters were received by Sir Charles on December 27th, 1881, on his return ...

— The Life of the Rt. Hon. Sir Charles W. Dilke V1 • Stephen Gwynn

... a man of most harmonious dispositions, was completely put out of tune by this circumstance. He felt like a monarch witnessing the murder of one of his liege subjects, and demanded, with some asperity, the meaning of the outrage. It turned out to be an affair of Master Simon's, who had selected the tree, from its height and straightness, for a May-pole, the old one which stood on the village green being unfit for farther service. If any thing could have soothed the ire of my worthy ...

— Bracebridge Hall, or The Humorists • Washington Irving

... how it may be now," would reply Mrs. Peedles, with some slight asperity; "but in my time we ladies of the legitimate stage used to look down upon dancers and such sort. Of course, no offence to you, ...

— Paul Kelver • Jerome Klapka, AKA Jerome K. Jerome

... with some asperity. "That thing's kept Harry Junior quiet all day. I bought it in good faith, and it's not my fault—say, have you got ...

— Teething Ring • James Causey

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