English
acerbic
Acerbic comes from Latin acerbus ‘sour, bitter’, from Proto-Italic *akris ‘sharp’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱrós‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*akris‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*akriðosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEacerbus‘sour, bitter’
- Englishearliest quotation 1986acerbic
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱrós‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*akris‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*akriðosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEacerbus‘sour, bitter’
- Englishearliest quotation 1986acerbic
Earliest quotation: 1986, West Germany: Last Taunts From the Lip: “Supercompetent, superconfident and supercritical, Schmidt is a gifted orator…”
The story
Attested since the 17th century, from Latin acerbus (‘sour, bitter’).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’
hear, edge, egg, ear, acid, hammer, axe, acute, oxide, acne, paragon, acupuncture, hark, acacia, acetate, acumen, acme, acuity, acyl, roselle, rosacea, 72 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱrós ‘sharp’
through Proto-Italic *akris ‘sharp’
eager, vinegar, acrimony, acrid, 7 more
through Latin acerbus ‘sour, bitter’
Today it means
adj Tasting sour or bitter.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- / acerbic