mordacity en · NOUN
Etymology
From Middle French mordacité (whence -acity), from Latin mordācitās (“quality of biting”), from mordāx (“biting, snappish, tart”), from mordeō (“bite, nibble”). Compare French mordacité. See mordacious.
Meanings
-
(uncountable, usually) The quality of being mordacious; biting severity, or sarcastic quality.
such things as have very thin parts , yet notwithstanding are without all acrirumony or mordacity
1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC:Carlyle resisted the temptation to laugh outright, but mordacity lurked in his voice.
1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| mordacities | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (1)
es mordacidad (Translations)