subacid en · ADJ
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Italic *supo Latin sub Latin sub-der. English sub- Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱéh₁yeti Proto-Italic *akēō Latin aceō Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-der. Proto-Italic *-iðos Latin -idus Latin acidusbor. French acidebor. English acid English subacid From sub- + acid.
Meanings
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Somewhat acidic.
Summerlee drew him on with his chorus of subacid criticism, while Lord John and I laughed at the contest and the lady, her hand upon his sleeve, controlled the bellowings of the philosopher.
1913, Arthur Conan Doyle, “(please specify the page)”, in The Poison Belt […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:An excellent temper, with a slight degree of subacid humour.
1827, [Walter Scott], Chronicles of the Canongate; […], Edinburgh: […] [Ballantyne and Co.] for Cadell and Co.; London: Simpkin and Marshall, →OCLC:Beer may be considered as the wine of grain, for it is the product of the fermentation of malt, just as wine is that of the fermentation of the grape, or other subacid fruits.
1821, Friedrich Accum, A Treatise on the Art of Brewing, London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, & Brown, page 5:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more subacid | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most subacid | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |