Acerbate is a word that is not commonly used in everyday language, but it is a word that is worth knowing. It is a verb that describes the action of making something sour, bitter, or irritating. This article will provide a comprehensive understanding of the definition and meaning of acerbate.
Definitions
The verb acerbate means to make something sour, bitter, or irritating. It is also used to describe the action of making something more intense or severe. The word acerbate is often used in the context of making a situation worse or aggravating someone.
Origin
The word acerbate has its roots in the Latin word acerbus, which means sour or bitter. The word was first used in English in the 17th century.
Meaning in different dictionaries
The meaning of acerbate can vary slightly depending on the dictionary. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, acerbate means to make something sour or bitter. The Oxford English Dictionary defines acerbate as to make something more sour, bitter, or irritating. The Cambridge Dictionary defines acerbate as to make something more unpleasant or annoying.
Associations
The word acerbate is often associated with negative emotions and actions. It is often used to describe situations that are unpleasant, irritating, or aggravating. It is also associated with making a bad situation worse.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of acerbate include aggravate, irritate, exacerbate, and sour. All of these words describe the action of making something worse or more unpleasant.
Antonyms
The antonyms of acerbate include sweeten, soothe, calm, and alleviate. These words describe actions that make something better or less unpleasant.
The same root words
The word acerbate is derived from the Latin word acerbus, which means sour or bitter. Other words that are derived from the same root include acerbic, which means having a sour or bitter taste, and acerbity, which means the quality of being sour or bitter.
Example Sentences
Here are some example sentences that use the word acerbate:
- His comments only served to acerbate an already tense situation.
- The sour taste of the lemon acerbated her already bad mood.
- The harsh criticism from her boss only served to acerbate her feelings of inadequacy.
- The bitter cold weather acerbated the pain in my joints.
- The acerbic tone of his voice made everyone in the room uncomfortable.