asperities

Noun

asperity (countable and uncountable, plural asperities)

1. (formal, uncountable) The quality of having a rough or uneven surface; roughness, unevenness; (countable, chiefly in the plural) a protruding or rough area or point on a surface; a protrusion.
   • Oyle of ſwete Almondes and of ſiſami taketh away the aſperitie and rougheneſſe of the throte.p. 1553 September 2 (Gregorian calendar), Petrus Hyspanus [i.e., Peter of Spain—Pope John XXI?], “[A Boke Conteyning the Names of Cõpound [Compound] Medecines […].] For Al Diseasys in the Head.”, in...

   Synonyms:

   bumpiness, ruggedness, bump, protuberance

   Antonyms:

   smoothness

   1. (countable, formal) A section of a fault line with high friction, such that there is no movement along this part of the fault except during an earthquake.
      • We inferred that the locking of asperities did cause higher stresses associated with earthquake cycle itself to occur in areas adjacent to asperities, both updip and downdip from them, and that such stressing has been much less pronounced in the areas adjacent to non-asperities.1990 December, R. Dmowska, J. R. Rice, “Stressing, Seismicity and Rupture of Slip-deficient Fault Zones”, in Muriel L. Jacobson, compiler, National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, Summaries of...
2. (figuratively, formal, uncountable) The quality of being difficult or unpleasant to experience; (countable) a thing that is harsh and difficult to endure; a difficulty, a hardship.
   • the asperity of Maine’s winter

   Synonyms:

   harshness, rigour, severity

3. (figuratively, formal, uncountable) The quality of being harsh or severe in the way one behaves or speaks toward another person; (countable, chiefly in the plural) a deeply hostile or resentful feeling; an animosity, a hatred.
   • But leaſt he ſhoulde offend the Iewes with the aſperitie of the word, if hee had ſaid that the lawe was dead, hee vſed a digreſſion, or deflection, ſaying, we are dead to the law.1583, Iohn Caluin [i.e., John Calvin], chapter 7, in Christopher Rosdell, transl., A Commentarie upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romanes, […], London: […] [Thomas Dawson] for Iohn Harison and...

   Synonyms:

   acerbity, harshness, severity, sharpness

4. (archaic, figuratively, formal) Of sound: gratingness, harshness.
   • [T]he importunate, harſh and diſharmonious Coaxations of Frogs, (ſo called in the Greek from that very ungratefull noiſe, […] from the ſhrilneſs and aſperity of the noiſe they make) […]1664, H[enry] More, chapter VI, in Synopsis Prophetica; or, The Second Part of the Modest Enquiry into the Mystery of Iniquity: […], London: […] James Flesher, for William Morden […], →OCLC, book I...
5. (archaic, figuratively, formal) Of taste: harshness or sharpness; acridity, tartness.
   • [T]he aſperity of tartarous ſalts, and the fiery acrimony of alcaline ſalts, irritating and vvounding the nerves, produce naſcent paſſions and anxieties in the ſoul; vvhich both aggravate diſtempers, and render men's lives reſtleſs and vvretched, even vvhen they are afflicted vvith no apparent...1744, G. L. B. O. C. [pseudonym; George Berkeley], Siris: A Chain of Philosophical Reflexions and Inquiries Concerning the Virtues of Tar Water, […], Dublin: […] Marg[are]t Rhames, for R. Gunne, […]...

   Synonyms:

   acrimony

See all 7 meanings of asperity