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Webster 1913 Edition


Acrimony

Ac′ri-mo-ny

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Acrimonies
.
[L.
acrimonia
, fr.
acer
, sharp: cf. F.
acrimonie
.]
1.
A quality of bodies which corrodes or destroys others; also, a harsh or biting sharpness;
as, the
acrimony
of the juices of certain plants
.
[Archaic]
Bacon.
2.
Sharpness or severity, as of language or temper; irritating bitterness of disposition or manners.
John the Baptist set himself with much
acrimony
and indignation to baffle this senseless arrogant conceit of theirs.
South.
These words express different degrees of angry feeling or language. Asperity and harshness arise from angry feelings, connected with a disregard for the feelings of others. Harshness usually denotes needless severity or an undue measure of severity. Acrimony is a biting sharpness produced by an imbittered spirit. Tartness denotes slight asperity and implies some degree of intellectual readiness. Tartness of reply; harshness of accusation; acrimony of invective.
In his official letters he expressed, with great
acrimony
, his contempt for the king’s character.
Macaulay.
It is no very cynical
asperity
not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received.
Johnson.
A just reverence of mankind prevents the growth of
harshness
and brutality.
Shaftesbury.

Definition 2024


acrimony

acrimony

English

Noun

acrimony (countable and uncountable, plural acrimonies)

  1. A sharp and bitter hatred.
    Her acrimony for her neighbors manifests itself with shouting and stomping.
    • 1826, Mary Shelley, The Last Man, Chapter 12
      In her resentful mood, these expressions had been remembered with acrimony and disdain; [...].

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