acrimoniousnessn.

1644 K. Digby Two Treat. i. xvii. 156 Which sheweth, that the reason of its giuing ouer to dissolue, is for want of hauing the water diuided into partes little enough to sticke vnto more salt: which, as in this case the fire doth; so peraduenture in the other, the acrimoniousnesse of the salt doth it.

1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. ii. viii. 218 Acrimoniousness, biting, keen, cutting.

1788 Specimens Serm. & Prayers i. 6 A moroseness and acrimoniousness of temper, which at last ends in downright ferociousness of disposition.

1838 Metropolitan 22 42 The Conservatives and Radicals of to-day scarcely yield in acrimoniousness to the Whigs and Tories of yesterday.

1881 Potter's Amer. Monthly Aug. 181/1 The question of female suffrage, once so prominent and discussed with such acrimoniousness on either side.

1911 T. Buchanan Making People Happy i. 28 The whisperings of the others suggested a growing acrimoniousness of debate.

1966 W. French Social Novel at End of Era v. 137 Trumbo's acrimoniousness was probably already making people uneasy.

2006 Express (Nexis) 26 Dec. 15 Before you settle down to a session of wholesome family acrimoniousness at the games table.