asperity
pronunciation
How to pronounce asperity in British English:
UK [æˈsperəti]
How to pronounce asperity in American English:
US [æˈspɛrɪti]
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- Noun:
- something hard to endure
- harshness of manner
Word Origin
- asperity (n.)
- c. 1200, asprete "hardship, harshness of feelings," a figurative use, from Old French asperité "difficulty, painful situation, harsh treatment" (12c., Modern French âpreté), from Latin asperitatem (nominative asperitas) "roughness," from asper "rough, harsh," which is of unknown origin; in Latin used also of sour wine, bad weather, and hard times. Figurative meaning "harshness of feeling" in English is attested from early 15c.
Example
- 1. His melancholy end disarms censure of its asperity .
- 2. " How strange , " continued the king , with some asperity ;
- 3. Recall the attributes of wabi-sabi : asymmetry , asperity , simplicity , modesty , intimacy , and the suggestion of a natural process .
- 4. I am unable to say I like her always asperity and the abrasive female bird when she comes in my restaurant !
- 5. " How do you think that ridiculous idea is going to help us ? " He demanded with asperity .