Main Entry: as·per·i·ty

Pronunciation: \a-ˈsper-ə-tē, ə-, -ˈspe-rə-\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural as·per·i·ties

Etymology: 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

Date: 13th century

1 : rigor, severity
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>