Also 1 surnes, 5–6 sowrenes, 5–7 -ness(e, sowernes(se, 5 sour-, 6 sourenes, 6–7 -nesse, etc. [f. SOUR a.]
1. The quality of being physically sour; acidity, tartness.
c. 1050. in Wr.-Wülcker, 347. Acredinis, surnesse.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 195. An oynement maad of armoniac & with þe sournes of citri.
14[?]. Contin. Brut, ccxxiv. 292. Þe fruyte of þe erþe … were turned into more saltnes & sournes of sauour.
1532. Tindale, Exp. Matt. v–vii. (1550), 67. As thou couldest not se leuen though thou breakest vp a loffe, excepte thou smelledest and tastedeste the sourenesse.
1551. Turner, Herbal, II. 58. Unrype mulberries besyde theyr tartnes they haue also a sournes.
1605. Timme, Quersit., I. iv. 19. Sulphur … doth contemper the sharpness or sowerness of mercurie.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 215. He knew to … tame to Plumbs, the Sourness of the Sloes.
1737. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Malt-dust, Where the Grounds … have contracted a Sourness and Austerity.
1765. Universal Mag., XXXVII. 371/2. Any little sournesses [of stomach] they may sometimes have.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 441. It has a slightly saltish taste, but no sourness.
1837. P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 6. They excite in the palate the sensation of sourness.
1864. Hardwich’s Phot. Chem. (ed. 7), 12. The characteristics of acids may be stated to be, intense sourness and corrosiveness.
2. The quality of being sour in temper, disposition or looks.
1482. Monk of Evesham, xxx. (Arb.), 72. In thys that sche … in her herte hylde rancour and sowernes agenste hem, sche gretely offendyd.
1548. Elyot, Tetricitas, sowernesse … of countinaunce.
1608. Dod & Cleaver, Expos. Prov. ix–x. 120. Let not our sourenesse and discontentment … be any meanes of their discouragement.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., I. 69–70. The Millenaries … expect … that all sowernesse amongst Christians shall be absorpt of Charity.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 2, ¶ 1. This Humour creates him no Enemies, for he does nothing with Sourness or Obstinacy.
1779. Cowper, Lett., 31 Oct. Some sourness in his temper.
1821. Lamb, Elia, I. Old Benchers Inner T. His look was uninviting, resembling (but without his sourness) that of our great philanthropist.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 44. Drink … will mellow the sourness of age.
