Hypertext Webster Gateway: "asperity"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Asperity \As*per"i*ty\, n.; pl. {Asperities}. [L. asperitas, fr.
asper rough: cf. F. asp['e]rit['e].]
1. Roughness of surface; unevenness; -- opposed to
{smoothness}. ``The asperities of dry bodies.'' --Boyle.

2. Roughness or harshness of sound; that quality which grates
upon the ear; raucity.

3. Roughness to the taste; sourness; tartness.

4. Moral roughness; roughness of manner; severity;
crabbedness; harshness; -- opposed to {mildness}.
``Asperity of character.'' --Landor.

It is no very cynical asperity not to confess
obligations where no benefit has been received.
--Johnson.

5. Sharpness; disagreeableness; difficulty.

The acclivities and asperities of duty. --Barrow.

Syn: Acrimony; moroseness; crabbedness; harshness; sourness;
tartness. See {Acrimony}.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

asperity
n 1: something hard to endure; "the asperity of northern winters"
[syn: {grimness}, {hardship}, {rigor}, {rigour}, {severity},
{rigorousness}]
2: harshness of manner [syn: {sharpness}] [ant: {dullness}]


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