- acerbity
- 1570s, from M.Fr. acerbité, from L. acerbitatem (nom. acerbitas) "harshness, sharpness, bitterness," from acerbus "bitter, sharp, tart" (related to acer "sharp;" cf. L. superbus "haughty," from super "above"), from PIE *ak- "sharp" (see acrid). Earliest use in Eng. is figurative, of "sharp and bitter" persons.