Bitterness of spirit, asperity, rancour (supposed to have its seat in the gall: see 1390 at sense 2a).

The quality of being sour in temper, disposition, or looks.

Gall, bitterness; (hence) animosity, rancour.

Bitterness and sharpness of character, manner, speech, etc. Also: an instance of this; a harsh experience or comment.

figurative. Sharpness of disposition, language, etc.; biting or caustic manner or character; acerbity, pungency, acrimony, asperity of tone.

Sharp or irritating bitterness of tone or manner; ill feeling. Also: an instance of this.

In figurative use, with reference to the characteristic acidity or sourness of verjuice.

figurative. Speech, temper, etc., of a sour or acid character. (Cf. compounds 1b.)

The quality of being acid; acidity. Frequently figurative.

Harshness or sharpness of temper, esp. when displayed in tone or manner; crabbedness, bitterness, acrimony; in plural harsh, embittered feelings.

Thorny quality or condition, prickliness; figurative acerbity of manner, roughness, ruggedness.

figurative. Sharp or acid quality of tone or demeanour; tartness, bitterness; (also) an instance of this, an acid quality.

= acerbity, n.

Irritant bitterness of speech or temper.

figurative. (In allusion to the corrosive properties of vitriol.) Virulence or acrimony of feeling or utterance.