subacid

[suhb-as-id]

adjective

1. slightly or moderately acid or sour.

   a subacid fruit.

2. (of a person or a person's speech, temper, etc.) somewhat biting or sharp.

subacid

/ sʌbˈæsɪd, ˌsʌbəˈsɪdɪtɪ /

adjective

1. (esp of some fruits) moderately acid or sour

Other Word Forms

• subacidity noun
• subacidly adverb
• subacidness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of subacid¹

First recorded in 1660–70; sub- + acid

Example Sentences

Numberless are the jokes made about the Legion of Honour, yet none contain such subacid irony as this one.

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Sapodilla, sap-ō-dil′a, n. a name given in the West Indies to the fruit of several species of Achras, the seeds aperient and diuretic, the pulp subacid and sweet.

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“Good evening,” repeated Christina in a low, subacid voice, looking away into her bowl of sliced onions.

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The berries of some fuchsias are subacid or sweet and edible.

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He chuckles with sly laughter—genial, sympathetic; he looses his arrow phosphorescent with wit, but not barbed, dipped in something subacid,—straight for the heart.

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