First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
asperity
noun as·per·i·ty \a-ˈsper-ə-tē, ə-, -ˈspe-rə-\
: harshness of behavior or speech that expresses bitterness or anger
plural as·per·i·ties
Full Definition of ASPERITY
2
a : roughness of surface : unevenness; also : a tiny projection from a surface b : roughness of sound
3
: roughness of manner or of temper : harshness <asked with some asperity just what they were implying>
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Origin of ASPERITY
Middle English asprete, from Anglo-French aspreté, from aspre rough, from Latin asper, from Old Latin *absperos, from ab- ab- + -speros; akin to Sanskrit apasphura repelling, Latin spernere to spurn — more at spurn
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