acrid
- sharp or biting to the taste or smell; bitterly pungent; irritating to the eyes, nose, etc.: acrid smoke from burning rubber.
- extremely or sharply stinging or bitter; exceedingly caustic: acrid remarks.
Origin of acrid
Examples from the Web for acridity
Historical Examples
Then, turning to Magnus, excused himself for the acridity of his words.
The OctopusFrank Norris
Besides, the German wines in themselves have other qualities than that of acridity.
The Parisians, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
Tom had a nagging air, and a trifle of acridity on his broad features.
Evan Harrington, CompleteGeorge Meredith
It seemed attracted by the acridity of the beautiful insect, as the moth is by the flame.
The InsectJules Michelet
Mr Thresh succeeded in obtaining an alkaloid from the capsicum, but this was entirely wanting in acridity and pungency.
acrid
- unpleasantly pungent or sharp to the smell or taste
- sharp or caustic, esp in speech or nature
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for acridity
acrid
adj.
1712, formed irregularly from Latin acer (fem. acris) "sharp, pungent, bitter, eager, fierce," from PIE *akri- "sharp," from root *ak- "be sharp, rise (out) to a point, pierce" (cf. Oscan akrid (ablative singular) "sharply;" Greek akis "sharp point," akros "at the farthest point, highest, outermost," akantha "thorn," akme "summit, edge;" also oxys "sharp, bitter;" Sanskrit acri- "corner, edge," acani- "point of an arrow," asrih "edge;" Lithuanian ašmuo "sharpness," akstis "sharp stick;" Old Lithuanian aštras, Lithuanian aštrus "sharp;" Old Church Slavonic ostru, Russian óstryj "sharp;" Old Irish er "high;" Welsh ochr "edge, corner, border;" Old Norse eggja "goad;" Old English ecg "sword"). The -id suffix probably is in imitation of acid. Acrious (1670s) is a correct formation, but seldom seen.
acrid
(ăk′rĭd)- Unpleasantly sharp, pungent, or bitter to the taste or smell.