ăcerbĭtas, ātis, f. [acerbus], sharpness, sourness, harshness, the harsh taste of fruits.
I . Prop.: fructus non laetos et uberes, sed magna acerbitate permixtos tulissem, Cic. Planc. 38, 92.
Hence,
II . Fig., sharpness.
A . Of moral qualities, harshness, severity, rigor, moroseness (opp. comitas, lenitas, and the like): severitatem probo, acerbitatem nullo modo, Cic. de Sen. 18: acerbitas morum immanitasque naturae, id. Phil. 12, 11; so id. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 13; Suet. Caes. 12; id. Ner. 44; cf. Brem. Nep. Dion. 6, 5.
Also satirical scverity: acerbitas et abunde salis, Quint. 10, 1, 94; cf. ib. 96, 117.
Also violence, anger: dissensio sine acerbitate, Cic. Off. 1, 25; id. Lael. 23, 87.
And hatred: nomen vestrum odio atque acerbitati scitote nationibus exteris futurum, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 30.
B . Of one’s lot or fortune, grief, sorrow, pain, anguish, affliction, and the like: acerbitas summi luctūs, Cic. Fam. 5, 16: lacrimas, quas tu in meis acerbitatibus plurimas effudisti, Cic. Planc. 42, 101: omnes acerbitates, omnes dolores cruciatusque perferre, id. Cat. 4, 1; so id. Sest. 38; id. Att. 9, 6; Nep. Alc. 6 al.
Hence,
Also satirical scverity: acerbitas et abunde salis, Quint. 10, 1, 94; cf. ib. 96, 117.
Also violence, anger: dissensio sine acerbitate, Cic. Off. 1, 25; id. Lael. 23, 87.
And hatred: nomen vestrum odio atque acerbitati scitote nationibus exteris futurum, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 30.
[LewisShort]
