acidulous

[uh-sij-uh-luh s]

See more synonyms for acidulous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

slightly sour.
sharp; caustic: his acidulous criticism of the book.
moderately acid or tart; subacid.

Also acidulent.

Origin of acidulous

From the Latin word acidulus, dating back to 1760–70. See acid, -ulous

Related formssub·a·cid·u·lous, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for acidulous

acerbic, dry, piquant, sharp, tart, acerb, biting, cutting, mocking, sarcastic, ironical

Examples from the Web for acidulous

Historical Examples of acidulous

She is an acidulous maiden person with ultra-ritualistic tendencies.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
She might marry or might miss, or grow into an acidulous red-headed woman.
The Wind Bloweth
Brian Oswald Donn-Byrne
Sudden, thunderous outpourings of acidulous and gluey fluid.
After the Rain
Sam Vaknin
Fragrant; golden yellow; tastes oily, acidulous, and resinous.
Cooley's Practical Receipts, Volume II
Arnold Cooley
The product is yellowish and acidulous, from the presence of acetic acid.
Cooley's Practical Receipts, Volume II
Arnold Cooley

British Dictionary definitions for acidulous

acidulous

acidulent

adjective

rather sour
sharp or sour in speech, manner, etc; acid

Word Origin for acidulous

C18: from Latin acidulus sourish, diminutive of acidus sour

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for acidulous

adj.

1769, "sub-acidic," used figuratively for "sour-tempered;" from Latin acidulus "slightly sour," a diminutive of acidus (see acid (adj.)).

acidulous in Medicine

acidulous

[ə-sĭj′ə-ləs]

adj.

Slightly acid or sour.