Word of the Day - 07/06/26
acerbic
/ə'sɜrbɪk/(adj.): sour or bitter in taste
The acerbic taste of the unripe lemon made him wince.
(adj.): harsh or corrosive in tone
The critic's acerbic review of the play left no doubt about his disdain.
Word Origin
The word 'acerbic' originated in the late 17th century. It comes from the French word 'acerbe' or directly from the Latin word 'acerbus', meaning 'sour' or 'harsh'. The Latin 'acerbus' itself is derived from 'acēr', meaning 'sharp'. The '-ic' is an adjectival suffix.
Many English words share a similar Latin root related to sharpness or sourness. Examples include 'acid' (from Latin 'acidus', meaning 'sour'), 'acrid' (from Latin 'ācer', meaning 'sharp'), 'acute' (from Latin 'acūtus', meaning 'sharp'), 'acumen' (from Latin 'acūmen', meaning 'sharpness'), and 'exacerbate' (from Latin 'exacerbare', meaning 'to make harsh').