asperity

noun

as·per·i·ty | \ a-ˈsper-ə-tē ,

ə- , -ˈspe-rə- \

plural asperities

Definition of asperity

1 : roughness of manner or of temper : harshness of behavior or speech that expresses bitterness or anger He asked with some asperity just what they were implying.

2 : rigor, severity … whether hearing herself described as a 'lovely woman' softened the asperity of her grief … —Charles Dickens

3a : roughness of surface : unevenness also : a tiny projection from a surface the asperities of the tongue

b : roughness of sound

Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Learn More about asperity

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Did You Know?

Asperity has had a rough history. It came to Modern English through Middle English (where it was spelled "asprete") by way of the Anglo-French ("asprete"), and ultimately derives from the Latin word asper, which means "rough." Not only is "asper" the source of "asperity," but it also underlies the English word exasperate (in fact, you can see "asper" nestled in the midst of that word). Although it is far less common than "asperity" and "exasperate," the word asper itself is still occasionally used in English, too - it functions as a synonym of "harsh," "bitter," or "stern."