Asperity
[ə'sperɪtɪ] or [æ'spɛrəti]
Definition
(noun.) harshness of manner.
(noun.) something hard to endure; 'the asperity of northern winters'.
Typist: Naomi--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) Roughness of surface; unevenness; -- opposed to smoothness.
(n.) Roughness or harshness of sound; that quality which grates upon the ear; raucity.
(n.) Roughness to the taste; sourness; tartness.
(n.) Moral roughness; roughness of manner; severity; crabbedness; harshness; -- opposed to mildness.
(n.) Sharpness; disagreeableness; difficulty.
Editor: Mamie
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. Roughness, ruggedness, unevenness.[2]. Acrimony, tartness, sourness, sharpness, causticity, corrosiveness.[3]. Harshness, moroseness, sternness, severity, virulence, crabbedness, bitterness, churlishness, acerbity, sullenness, ill temper, bad blood.
Typist: Rosa
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Acerbity, harshness, acrimony, bitterness, sharpness, tartness, sourness,roughness, moroseness, severity, crabbedness
ANT:Mildness, softness, sweetness, gentleness, pleasantness, smoothness
Inputed by Giles
Definition
n. roughness: harshness: bitter coldness.
Inputed by Isabella
Examples
- Perdita listened to me impatiently, and answered with some asperity:--Do you think that any of your arguments are new to me? Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- She grew capricious; her gentle conduct towards him was exchanged for asperity and repulsive coldness. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- Oh, if you find your own cases more interesting than mine-- said Holmes, with some asperity. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- Nobody but you,' retorted Mrs. Pott, with asperity. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- I said with some asperity: Fragment of a Russian General! Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- To which the person of the house, stretching out her arm in an attitude of command, replied with irresponsive asperity: 'Go along with you! Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- You must have gone off your head, said Mrs. Peniston with asperity. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- I thank you, said Ward, with much asperity, I thank you all the same; but I prefer having the paper here, with your permission. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- I wonder you remember those times, Esther, she returned with her old asperity. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- Three years had certainly not smoothed the asperities of his temper or his impatience with a less active intelligence than his own. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
Edited by Barbie