Acerbate
/ˈæ.səɹˌbeɪt/ adj, verb
adj, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To exasperate; to irritate. transitive
"Lady Laura had triumphed; but she had no desire to acerbate her husband by any unpalatable allusion to her victory."
- 2 make sour or bitter wordnet
- 3 To make bitter or sour. transitive
- 4 cause to be bitter or resentful wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Embittered; having a sour disposition or nature. rare
Example
More examples"Lady Laura had triumphed; but she had no desire to acerbate her husband by any unpalatable allusion to her victory."
Etymology
From Latin acerbātus, perfect passive participle of acerbō (“make bitter”), from acerbus (“bitter”).