Word of the Day

: September 23, 2007

acerbic

adjective uh-SER-bik

What It Means

: acid in temper, mood, or tone

acerbic in Context

Liam's speech was punctuated by his usual acerbic wit, and some people in the audience thought that his comments went too far.

Did You Know?

English speakers created "acerbic" in the 19th century by adding "-ic" to the adjective "acerb." "Acerb" had been around since the 17th century, but for most of that time it had been used with only a literal "sour-tasting" sense. (The word "acerb" is still around today, but it is now simply a less common synonym of "acerbic.") "Acerbic" and "acerb" ultimately come from the Latin adjective "acerbus," which can mean "harsh," "bitter," or "unpleasant." Another English word that comes from "acerbus" is "exacerbate," which means "to make more violent, bitter, or severe."