| 释义 |
causticity|kɔːˈstɪsɪtɪ|
[f. caustic + -ity. Cf. F. causticité.]
1. Caustic quality; burning pungent taste; the property of destroying or corroding organic tissue.
1772Priestley in Phil. Trans. LXII. 254 Free from causticity. 1791Macie ibid. LXXXI. 375 This solution had an alkaline taste, but seemingly with little, if any, causticity. 1802Playfair Illustr. Hutton. The. 523 The causticity produced in limestone by exposure to fire. 1830Lindley Nat. Syst. Bot. 7 Acridity, causticity, and poison, are the general characters of this suspicious order.
2. fig. of speech or humour.
1785H. Walpole Lett. C'tess Ossory II. 220, I..endeavoured to repair my causticity. 1816Scott Antiq. xiii, With his usual dry causticity of humour. 1866M. W. Freer Regency Anne of A. I. i. 20 The duke was witty, and famous for the causticity of his tongue. |