New Word A Day

asperity

Pronounced:
< a-spare-it-tee >

A harsh attitude. Irritable.

My use: 
The asperity of your voice surprises me.  Are you having a bad day?

Literary use:
At the election of 1835 he defended himself to his constituents, and spoke with considerable asperity of his late colleagues.

Memory trick:
asperi (reminds of ) = aspirin
ty (sounds like) = tea
I am irritable,  I need aspirin with tea

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