acrimonia

ācrĭmōnĭa, ae, f. [2. acer], sharpness or pungency (so far as it has a quickening, animating power, diff. fr. acerbitas, which desig. a disagreeable sharpness).

I.

Lit., of taste:

si ulcus acrimoniam brassicae ferre non poterit,

the pungency, irritation, smart, Cato R. R. 157, 5:

dulcis cum quadam acrimonia,

Plin. 24, 14, 78, § 128; cf.

sinapis,

id. 18, 13, 34, § 128 al. —Of smell, Plin. 27, 13, 109, § 133.—

II.

Fig., sharpness, acrimony, austerity of character, energy of acting: “animi vivacitas,” Non. 73, 17: mei feri ingeri iram atque animi acrem acrimoniam, Naev. ap. Non. 73, 18 (Rib. Trag. Rel. p. 11); cf.: vim, ferociam, animi, atrocitatem, iram, acrimoniam, Att. ib. (Ribbeck, p. 196):

convenit in vultu pudorem et acrimoniam esse,

Auct. Her. 3, 15, 26; cf. ib. 4, 13, 19; 24, 34:

si Glabrionis patris vim et acrimoniam ceperis ad resistendum hominibus audacissimis,

Cic. Verr. 1, 17, 52.—Of abstract objects:

vis et acrimonia causae,

Cic. Inv. 2, 48, 143:

licentiae,

Auct. Her. 4, 37, 49.—Of discourse, sharpness of speech (opp. sermo):

tum in sermone, tum in acrimonia,

now in common conversation, now in sharp talk, Auct. Her. 4, 42, 54.