I.sharpness, sourness, harshness, the harsh taste of fruits.
I. Prop.: “fructus non laetos et uberes, sed magna acerbitate permixtos tulissem,” Cic. Planc. 38, 92.—Hence,
II. Fig., sharpness.
A. Of moral qualities, harshness, severity, rigor, moroseness (opp. comitas, lenitas, and the like): “severitatem probo, acerbitatem nullo modo,” Cic. de Sen. 18: “acerbitas morum immanitasque naturae,” id. Phil. 12, 11; so id. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 13; Suet. Caes. 12; id. Ner. 44; cf. Brem. Nep. Dion. 6, 5.—Also satirical scverity: “acerbitas et abunde salis,” Quint. 10, 1, 94; cf. ib. 96, 117.—Also violence, anger: “dissensio sine acerbitate,” Cic. Off. 1, 25; id. Lael. 23, 87.—And hatred: “nomen vestrum odio atque acerbitati scitote nationibus exteris futurum,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 30.—
B. Of one's lot or fortune, grief, sorrow, pain, anguish, affliction, and the like: “acerbitas summi luctūs,” Cic. Fam. 5, 16: “lacrimas, quas tu in meis acerbitatibus plurimas effudisti,” Cic. Planc. 42, 101: omnes acerbitates, omnes dolores cruciatusque perferre, id. Cat. 4, 1; so id. Sest. 38; id. Att. 9, 6; Nep. Alc. 6 al.
