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acrimony

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acrimony


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Acrimony  \Ac"ri*mo*ny\,  n.;  pl  {Acrimonies}.  [L.  acrimonia  fr 
  acer,  sharp:  cf  F.  acrimonie.] 
  1.  A  quality  of  bodies  which  corrodes  or  destroys  others 
  also  a  harsh  or  biting  sharpness;  as  the  acrimony  of  the 
  juices  of  certain  plants.  [Archaic]  --Bacon. 
 
  2.  Sharpness  or  severity,  as  of  language  or  temper; 
  irritating  bitterness  of  disposition  or  manners. 
 
  John  the  Baptist  set  himself  with  much  acrimony  and 
  indignation  to  baffle  this  senseless  arrogant 
  conceit  of  theirs  --South. 
 
  Syn:  {Acrimony},  {Asperity},  {Harshness},  {Tartness}. 
 
  Usage:  These  words  express  different  degrees  of  angry  feeling 
  or  language.  Asperity  and  harshness  arise  from  angry 
  feelings,  connected  with  a  disregard  for  the  feelings 
  of  others  Harshness  usually  denotes  needless  severity 
  or  an  undue  measure  of  severity.  Acrimony  is  a  biting 
  sharpness  produced  by  an  imbittered  spirit.  Tartness 
  denotes  slight  asperity  and  implies  some  degree  of 
  intellectual  readiness.  Tartness  of  reply;  harshness 
  of  accusation;  acrimony  of  invective. 
 
  In  his  official  letters  he  expressed,  with  great 
  acrimony,  his  contempt  for  the  king's  character. 
  --Macaulay. 
 
  It  is  no  very  cynical  asperity  not  to  confess 
  obligations  where  no  benefit  has  been  received. 
  --Johnson. 
 
  A  just  reverence  of  mankind  prevents  the  growth 
  of  harshness  and  brutality.  --Shaftesbury. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  acrimony 
  n  :  a  sharp  and  bitter  manner  [syn:  {bitterness},  {acerbity},  {jaundice}] 




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