asperity

[ uh-sper-i-tee ]

noun

, plural as·per·i·ties.

1. harshness or sharpness of tone, temper, or manner; severity; acrimony:

   The cause of her anger did not warrant such asperity.

   Synonyms: astringency, bitterness, acerbity

   Antonyms: cheerfulness, affability

2. hardship; difficulty; rigor:

   the asperities of polar weather.

3. roughness of surface; unevenness.
4. something rough or harsh.

asperity

/ æˈspɛrɪtɪ /

noun

1. roughness or sharpness of temper
2. roughness or harshness of a surface, sound, taste, etc
3. a condition hard to endure; affliction
4. physics the elastically compressed region of contact between two surfaces caused by the normal force

Word History and Origins

Origin of asperity¹

1200–50; late Middle English asperite (< Anglo-French ) < Latin asperitās, equivalent to asper rough + -itās -ity; replacing Middle English asprete < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of asperity¹

C16: from Latin asperitās, from asper rough

Example Sentences

He looked at the president when the president spoke, and his expression revealed no asperity or disdain.

From The Daily Beast

"Nevertheless, the contrary is the case," replied Doa Encarnacion, with asperity.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. D., accustomed to unrestrained license of tongue, retorted with great asperity, and much harshness of language.

From Project Gutenberg

Miss Carrington heard the bustle in the class, so she sat up and looked out over the room with asperity.

From Project Gutenberg

The orators of the opposition declaimed against him with great animation and asperity.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet her mother, at this, turned upon her with sudden asperity.

From Project Gutenberg