ăcerbĭtas, ātis, f. [acerbus], sharpness, sourness, harshness, the harsh taste of fruits.
I Prop.: fructus non laetos et uberes, sed magna acerbitate permixtos tulissem, Cic. Planc. 38, 92.—Hence,
II Fig., sharpness.
A Of moral qualities, harshness , severity , rigor , moroseness (opp. comitas, lenitas, and the like): severitatem probo, acerbitatem nullo modo, Cic. de Sen. 18, 66: acerbitas morum immanitasque naturae, id. Phil. 12, 11; so id. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 13; Suet. Caes. 12; id. Ner. 44; cf. Brem. Nep. Dion. 6, 5.—Also satirical scverity : acerbitas et abunde salis, Quint. 10, 1, 94; cf. ib. 96, 117.—Also violence , anger : dissensio sine acerbitate, Cic. Off. 1, 25; id. Lael. 23, 87.—And hatred : nomen vestrum odio atque acerbitati scitote nationibus exteris futurum, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 30.—
B Of one's lot or fortune, grief , sorrow , pain , anguish , affliction , and the like: acerbitas summi luctūs, Cic. Fam. 5, 16: lacrimas, quas tu in meis acerbitatibus plurimas effudisti, Cic. Planc. 42, 101: omnes acerbitates, omnes dolores cruciatusque perferre, id. Cat. 4, 1; so id. Sest. 38; id. Att. 9, 6; Nep. Alc. 6 al.