acrituden.
/ˈakrᵻtjuːd/, /ˈakrᵻtʃuːd/, U.S. /ˈækrəˌt(j)ud/ Now rare.
= acridity n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [noun] > bitterness or acridity
gallc1175
smartnessa1425
rhubarba1529
acrimony1542
acridity1547
amaritude1599
acerbity1608
acrity1619
asperity1620
acritude1650
acridness1702
bitterishness1702
crabbedness1715
acerbitude1727
amarulence1727
bitterness-
1650 R. Gentilis tr. V. Malvezzi Considerations Lives Alcibiades & Corialanus 3 Nature is inclined to evill, and evill actions include a certaine acritude in themselves.
1681 N. Grew Musæum Regalis Societatis iii. 341 In green vitriol, with its astringent and sweetish Tasts, is joyn'd some Acritude.
1682 N. Grew Disc. Tasts in Plants vi. i. §21 in Anat. Plants 281 Acritude, is Pungency joyned with Heat.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. at Acrid The characteristic therefore of Acritude consists in pungency joined with heat.
1800 J. Glover Attempt to prove Digestion depends on Solution & Fermentation ii. 39 The acritude of bile when regurgitated.
1864 Atlantic Monthly Jan. 35/2 By drinking her own tea in its acritude, they would do admirably; for tea even little Jane required as her tonic.
1916 R. Hughes Thirteenth Commandment lxviii. 475 In Cleveland his thoughts were dour, for there was where his romance had blossomed in such pink flowers with such acritude of fruit.
1951 Hispania 34 334/1 The most notable was Pereda, who writes with great acritude in the chapter ‘Palique’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1650