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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Asperity \As*per"i*ty\, noun; pl. {Asperities}. [L. asperitas, fr. asper rough: cf. F. asp['e]rit['e].]
1. Roughness of surface; unevenness; -- opposed to {smoothness}. ''The asperities of dry bodies.'' --Boyle.
2. Roughness or harshness of sound; that quality which grates upon the ear; raucity.
3. Roughness to the taste; sourness; tartness.
4. Moral roughness; roughness of manner; severity; crabbedness; harshness; -- opposed to {mildness}. ''Asperity of character.'' --Landor.
It is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received. --Johnson.
5. Sharpness; disagreeableness; difficulty.
The acclivities and asperities of duty. --Barrow.
Syn: Acrimony; moroseness; crabbedness; harshness; sourness; tartness. See {Acrimony}.
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