Acridity

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The property of having a sharp, biting taste or smell that can provoke discomfort in individuals
2. The quality of a strong, biting flavor or odor that causes irritation or discomfort
3. A distinct characteristic of harshness in taste or smell that may upset or repel senses

Etymology: Acridity is a straightforward formation: it is the noun made from the adjective "acrid" by adding the suffix "-ity," which turns an adjective into a noun for a quality. The suffix itself has a longer road into English. It descends from a Proto-Indo-European ending that passed through Latin "-itās," then Old French "-ité," and reached Middle English as "-ite" before settling into the modern "-ity." The more interesting part is the base word. "Acrid" is built on the same ancient root as the word "acrid" in its older sense of sharp, bitter, or sour to the taste, and that sharpness is what the adjective still carries when it describes smoke or fumes that sting the nose and throat. Acridity therefore names the stinging quality itself, the sensation that makes you cough or wince rather than simply a pleasant or unpleasant smell.

Synonyms: bitterness, sharpness, sting, tang, pungency

Antonyms: sweetness, mildness, blandness, smoothness, gentleness