I. Lit., of taste: si ulcus acrimoniam brassicae ferre non poterit, the pungency, irritation, smart, Cato R. R. 157, 5: dulcis cum quadam acrimonia, Plin. 24, 14, 78, 128; cf. sinapis, id. 18, 13, 34, 128 al.—Of smell, Plin. 27, 13, 109, 133.—

II. Fig., sharpness, acrimony, austerity of character, energy of acting: animi vivacitas, Non. 73, 17: mei feri ingeri iram atque animi acrem acrimoniam, Naev. ap. Non. 73, 18 (Rib. Trag. Rel. p. 11); cf.: vim, ferociam, animi, atrocitatem, iram, acrimoniam, Att. ib. (Ribbeck, p. 196): convenit in vultu pudorem et acrimoniam esse, Auct. Her. 3, 15, 26; cf. ib. 4, 13, 19; 24, 34: si Glabrionis patris vim et acrimoniam ceperis ad resistendum hominibus audacissimis, Cic. Verr. 1, 17, 52.—Of abstract objects: vis et acrimonia causae, Cic. Inv. 2, 48, 143: licentiae, Auct. Her. 4, 37, 49.—Of discourse, sharpness of speech (opp. sermo): tum in sermone, tum in acrimonia, now in common conversation, now in sharp talk, Auct. Her. 4, 42, 54.