Acerbate

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈasÉ™beɪt/
• US IPA: /ˈæsəɹˌbeɪt/, ASS-uhr-bait

Origin

From Latin acerbātus, perfect passive participle of acerbō ("make bitter"), from acerbus ("bitter").

Full definition of acerbate

Adjective

1. (rare) Embittered; having a sour disposition or nature.

Verb

1. To exasperate; to irritate.
• 1869, Anthony Trollope, Phineas Finn, ch. 51:Lady Laura had triumphed; but she had no desire to acerbate her husband by any unpalatable allusion to her victory.
2. To make bitter or sour.

Synonyms

• (exasperate) provoke
• (make bitter) sour, embitter

Derived terms

• acerbation