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asperity

 - 3 dictionary results

as⋅per⋅i⋅ty

  [uh-sper-i-tee]
Use asperity in a Sentence
–noun, plural -ties.
1. harshness or sharpness of tone, temper, or manner; severity; acrimony: The cause of her anger did not warrant such asperity.
2. hardship; difficulty; rigor: the asperities of polar weather.
3. roughness of surface; unevenness.
4. something rough or harsh.
Origin:
1200–50; late ME asperite (< AF) < L asperitās, equiv. to asper rough + -itās -ity; r. ME asprete < AF, OF < L

Synonyms:
1. acerbity, bitterness, astringency.

Antonyms:
1. affability, cheerfulness.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To asperity
as·per·i·ty   (ā-spěr'ĭ-tē)   
n.   pl. as·per·i·ties

    1. Roughness or harshness, as of surface, sound, or climate: the asperity of northern winters.

    2. Severity; rigor.

  2. A slight projection from a surface; a point or bump.

  3. Harshness of manner; ill temper or irritability.


[Middle English asperite, from Old French asprete, from Latin asperitās, from asper, rough.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

asperity 
c.1230, asprete "harshness of feelings," a fig. use, from O.Fr. asperete, from L. asperitas "roughness," from asper "rough," of unknown origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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