Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Definition for AS-PER'I-TY
AS-PER'I-TY, a. [L. asperitas, from asper, rough.]
- Roughness of surface; unevenness; opposed to smoothness. – Boyle.
- Roughness of sound; that quality which grates the ear; harshness of pronunciation. Warton.
- Roughness to the taste; sourness.
- Roughness or ruggedness of temper; moroseness; sourness; crabbedness. – Rogers.
- Sharpness. – Berkeley.
Return to page 190 of the letter “A”.