Acidulously

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Having a distinctive flavor that is mildly sour or sharp in essence
2. Exhibiting a somewhat tart or tangy characteristic that conveys a hint of acidity
3. In a way that conveys a slight sharpness or sourness in taste or tone

Etymology: Acidulous comes from Latin "acidulus," a diminutive of "acidus" (sour), so it means "somewhat sour." The adverb is simply that adjective with the English suffix "-ly" added, and the suffix itself has a long pedigree: it descends from an old Germanic word meaning "body" or "form," which is also the source of "like," so "-ly" once meant "in the form of" or "in the manner of." Attaching it to a word means "in the manner of" that word, which is why "acidulously" describes doing something in a slightly sour way. The adverb is a straightforward formation rather than a word with a dramatic history. Its most useful feature is the diminutive sense built into its root: "acidulous" describes something that is only mildly sour, not harshly acid. That precision carries over, so a remark delivered acidulously has a faint edge of tartness rather than outright bitterness.

Synonyms: sourly, tartly