[an irreg. and recent formation on L. ācri-s sharp, pungent (f. root ac-, in acute, acid, acerb) + -ID, perh. in imitation of acid. Cf. Fr. âcre (in Cotgr., 1611). Preceded in 17th c. by acrimonious, also by acris unchanged, and the more regularly formed acrious.]
1. Bitter and hot or stinging to the taste, or having a similar effect upon the eyes, skin, and mucous membrane; bitterly pungent, irritating, corrosive.
1712. trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 221. Of an acrid astringent taste.
1732. Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, 296. Stimulating Substances abounding with a pungent acrid Salt.
1764. Reid, Inq. Hum. Mind, vi. § 21, 187. Gnawed and corroded by some acrid humour.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 448. The mariner, his blood inflamed With acrid salts.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 129. This resin is extremely acrid, causing excoriations and blisters if applied to the skin.
1856. Mrs. Browning, Aurora Leigh, 49. The sweat of labour in the early curse Has (turning acrid in six thousand years) Become the sweat of torture.
1868. Bain, Ment. & Mor. Sc., 39. In the third class of tastes, there is present an element arising through the nerves of Touch … The acrid combines the fiery with the bitter.
2. Bitterly irritating to the feelings; of bitter and irritating temper or manner. (Stronger than acrimonious.)
[Not in Johnson, 1773.]
1781. Cowper, Charity, 503. Their acrid temper turns, as soon as stirred, The milk of their good purpose all to curd.
1840. Carlyle, Heroes, 297 (1858). He was found, close at hand, to be no mean acrid man; but at heart a healthful, strong, sagacious man.
1850. Merivale, Hist. Rom. Emp., VIII. lxiv. 129 (1865). Tacitus grows more acrid, more morbid in temper, even to the last.
