asperity

Noun
Synonyms: grimnesshardshiprigorrigourseverityseverenessrigorousnessrigourousnesssharpness

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. something hard to endure“the asperity of northern winters”Synonyms: grimnesshardshiprigorrigourseverityseverenessrigorousnessrigourousness
  2. harshness of mannerSynonyms: sharpness
Advertisement

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Asperity \As*per"i*ty\, n.; pl. Asperities. [L. asperitas, fr. asper rough: cf. F. asp['e]rit['e].]

1.Roughness of surface; unevenness; -- opposed to smoothness. "The asperities of dry bodies." --Boyle. [1913 Webster]

2.Roughness or harshness of sound; that quality which grates upon the ear; raucity. [1913 Webster]

3.Roughness to the taste; sourness; tartness. [1913 Webster]

4.Moral roughness; roughness of manner; severity; crabbedness; harshness; -- opposed to mildness. "Asperity of character." --Landor. [1913 Webster]

It is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received.— Johnson.[1913 Webster]

5.Sharpness; disagreeableness; difficulty. [1913 Webster]

The acclivities and asperities of duty.— Barrow.[1913 Webster]

Syn: Acrimony; moroseness; crabbedness; harshness; sourness; tartness. See Acrimony. [1913 Webster]

Advertisement