Part 129

<h1>Acred</h1> <Xpage=16>

<hw>A"cred</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Possessing acres or landed property; -- used in composition; <as>as, large-<ex>acred</ex> men</as>.</def>

<h1>Acrid</h1> <Xpage=16>

<hw>Ac"rid</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>acer</ets> sharp; prob. assimilated in form to <ets>acid</ets>. See <er>Eager</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Sharp and harsh, or bitter and not, to the taste; pungent; <as>as, <ex>acrid</ex> salts</as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Causing heat and irritation; corrosive; <as>as, <ex>acrid</ex> secretions</as>.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Caustic; bitter; bitterly irritating; <as>as, <ex>acrid</ex> temper, mind, writing</as>.</def>

<cs><col>Acrid poison</col>, <cd>a poison which irritates, corrodes, or burns the parts to which it is applied.</cd></cs>

<h1>Acridity, Acridness</h1> <Xpage=16>

<hw><hw>A*crid"i*ty</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <hw>Ac"rid*ness</hw> <tt>(#)</tt><hw> <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being acrid or pungent; irritant bitterness; acrimony; <as>as, the <ex>acridity</ex> of a plant, of a speech</as>.</def>

<h1>Acridly</h1> <Xpage=16>

<hw>Ac"rid*ly</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In an acid manner.</def>

<h1>Acrimonious</h1> <Xpage=16>

<hw>Ac"ri*mo"ni*ous</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf. LL. <ets>acrimonious</ets>, F. <ets>acrimonieux</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Acrid; corrosive; <as>as, <ex>acrimonious</ex> gall</as>.</def> <mark>[Archaic]</mark>

<i>Harvey.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Caustic; bitter-tempered' sarcastic; <as>as, <ex>acrimonious</ex> dispute, language, temper</as>.</def>

<h1>Acrimoniously</h1> <Xpage=16>

<hw>Ac`ri*mo"ni*ous*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In an acrimonious manner.</def>

<h1>Acrimoniousness</h1> <Xpage=16>

<hw>Ac`ri*mo"ni*ous*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being acrimonious; asperity; acrimony.</def>

<h1>Acrimony</h1> <Xpage=16>

<hw>Ac"ri*mo*ny</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Acrimonies</plw> <tt>(#)</tt>.</plu> <ety>[L. <ets>acrimonia</ets>, fr. <ets>acer</ets>, sharp: cf. F. <ets>acrimonie</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A quality of bodies which corrodes or destroys others; also, a harsh or biting sharpness; <as>as, the <ex>acrimony</ex> of the juices of certain plants</as>.</def> <mark>[Archaic]</mark>

<i>Bacon.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Sharpness or severity, as of language or temper; irritating bitterness of disposition or manners.</def>

<blockquote>John the Baptist set himself with much <b>acrimony</b> and indignation to baffle this senseless arrogant conceit of theirs. <i>South.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Acrimony</er>, <er>Asperity</er>, <er>Harshness</er>, <er>Tartness</er>.</syn> <usage> These words express different degrees of angry feeling or language. <i>Asperity</i> and <i>harshness</i> arise from angry feelings, connected with a disregard for the feelings of others. <i>Harshness</i> usually denotes needless severity or an undue measure of severity. <i>Acrimony</i> is a biting sharpness produced by an imbittered spirit. <i>Tartness</i> denotes slight asperity and implies some degree of intellectual readiness. <i>Tartness</i> of reply; <i>harshness</i> of accusation; <i>acrimony</i> of invective.</usage>

<blockquote>In his official letters he expressed, with great <b>acrimony</b>, his contempt for the king's character. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>It is no very cynical <b>asperity</b> not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received. <i>Johnson.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>A just reverence of mankind prevents the growth of <b>harshness</b> and brutality. <i>Shaftesbury.</i></blockquote>