English Dictionary: asperity | by the DICT Development Group |
2 results for asperity | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Asperity \As*per"i*ty\, n.; pl. {Asperities}. [L. asperitas, fr. asper rough: cf. F. asp[82]rit[82].] 1. Roughness of surface; unevenness; -- opposed to {smoothness}. [bd]The asperities of dry bodies.[b8] --Boyle. 2. Roughness or harshness of sound; that quality which grates upon the ear; raucity. 3. Roughness to the taste; sourness; tartness. 4. Moral roughness; roughness of manner; severity; crabbedness; harshness; -- opposed to {mildness}. [bd]Asperity of character.[b8] --Landor. It is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received. --Johnson. 5. Sharpness; disagreeableness; difficulty. The acclivities and asperities of duty. --Barrow. Syn: Acrimony; moroseness; crabbedness; harshness; sourness; tartness. See {Acrimony}. |