Obs. rare. [ad. L. acritūdo sharpness, f. acri-s sharp; see -TUDE.] Sharpness or pungency of taste; pungency mixed with heat or biting quality; = ACRIDITY.
1675. Grew, Plants, Lect., VI. i. (1682), 281. Acritude is Pungency joyned with Heat. Ibid. (1681), Museum, III. 341. In green vitriol, with its astringent and sweetish Tasts, is joyn’d some Acritude.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v. Acrid, The characteristic therefore of Acritude consists in pungency joined with heat.
1773. in Johnson.
