a. [ad. Fr. acrimonieux, -euse, ad. med.L. ācrimōniōs-us, f. ācrimōnia; see ACRIMONY and -OUS.]

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  1.  1 = ACRID 1. arch.

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1612.  Woodall, Surgeon’s Mate, Wks. 1653, 180. If it proceed of an acrimonious fretting humor, etc.

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1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 336. Artificiall copperose … is a rough and acrimonious kinde of salt.

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1664.  Dr. H. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 63. A sharp and acrimonious vapour that strikes our nostrils.

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1732.  Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, 298. All Substances that abound with an acrimonious Salt and Volatile Oil are hurtful.

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1813.  Marshall, Gardening, § 19, 328 (ed. 5). The sap is very (even dangerously) acrimonious.

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1856.  Mill, Logic, IV. v. § 4 (1868), II. 244. Natural substances which possessed strong and acrimonious properties.

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  2.  Bitter and irritating in disposition or manner; bitter-tempered.

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1775.  Johnson, Tax. no Tyr., 69. Malignity thus acrimonious.

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1831.  Scott, Abbot, i. 12. Engaged in a furious and acrimonious contest.

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1833.  I. Taylor, Fanaticism, § 1, 2. If … his feelings are petulant and acrimonious.

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1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 565. Only a single acrimonious expression escaped him.

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1861.  May, Const. Hist. Eng., I. i. 54 (1863). Political hostility had been embittered by the most acrimonious disputes.

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