Category:Asperity

As*per"i*ty, n.; pl. Asperities. Etym: [L. asperitas, fr. asper rough: cf. F. aspérité.]

1. Roughness of surface; unevenness; -- opposed to smoothness. "The asperities of dry bodies." 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. "Asperity of character." 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.