Ăc'ri-mo-ny, n.

(50), n. [Lat. acrimonia, from acer, sharp; Fr. acrimonie.]

1. A quality of bodies which corrodes, dissolves, or destroys others; a harsh or biting sharpness; as, the acrimony of the juices of certain plants. Bacon.
2. Sharpness or severity, as of language or temper. South.

John the Baptist set himself with much acrimony and indignation to baffle this senseless arrogant conceit of theirs. Swift. Syn.—Asperity; harshness; severity; bitterness.—ACRIMONY, ASPERITY, HARSHNESS, TARTNESS. These words express different degrees of angry feeling or language. Tartness springs from an irritable temper, united to quickness of intellect. Asperity and harshness arise from angry feelings, connected with a disregard for the feelings of others. Acrimony is a biting sharpness produced by an imbittered spirit. Tartness of reply; harshness of accusation; acrimony of invective. No order of men have an enmity of more acrimony or longer continuance. Rambler. It is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received. Johnson. A just reverence of mankind prevents the growth of harshness and brutality. Shaftesbury. The grand debate, The popular harangue, the tart reply, The logic, and the wisdom, and the wit, And the loud laugh,—I long to know them all. Cowper.