Acridities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A state of having a bitter or sharp taste or smell; conditions that cause irritation to the eyes, throat, or nose; or harshness in tone or manner that can lead to discomfort or offense
2. The presence of unpleasant and pungent odors; sensations that provoke a sharp reaction in the senses, especially the respiratory system; or a quality characterized by caustic remarks or bitterness in communication
3. Characteristics of having a burning, irritating quality in scent or flavor; situations that result in physical discomfort due to airborne irritants; or verbal exchanges that are abrasive or unwillingly aggressive in nature

Etymology: "Acridities" is simply the plural of "acridity," so it describes more than one instance or kind of the quality. The base word "acrid" is itself the more interesting part. It comes from Latin "acer," meaning sharp or pungent, the same root that gave English "acerbic" and "acrimony," both of which carry the sense of sharpness in taste or temper. The noun ending "-ity" comes from Latin "-itas," which turns an adjective into a noun for a state or quality. It entered English through Old French "-ite" and Middle English "-ite" before settling into its modern form. So "acridity" is a straightforward combination: "acrid" plus the suffix that names a quality, with the plural marking several such qualities at once.