mordacious

  • 1Mordacious — Mor*da cious, a. [L. mordax, acis, fr. mordere, morsum, to bite. See {Morsel}.] Biting; given to biting; hence, figuratively, sarcastic; severe; scathing. {Mor*da cious*ly}, adv. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2mordacious — I adjective acerbic, acid, acrid, acrimonious, acute, biting, bitter, caustic, corrosive, cutting, harsh, incisive, knifelike, malicious, mordant, penetrating, piercing, pointed, pungent, rancorous, raw, rough, scathing, severe, sharp, slashing,… …

    Law dictionary

  • 3mordacious — (adj.) given to biting, 1640s (originally figurative), from L. mordac , stem of mordax, from mordere to bite, perhaps from PIE root (s)mer to rub away, harm (see SMART (Cf. smart) (v.)). Related: Mordacity …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4mordacious — [môr dā′shəs] adj. [< L mordax (gen. mordacis), biting < base of mordere, to bite: see MORDANT & OUS] biting, sharp, acrid, or caustic mordaciously adv. mordacity [môrdas′ə tē] n …

    English World dictionary

  • 5mordacious — adjective 1. capable of wounding a barbed compliment a biting aphorism pungent satire • Syn: ↑barbed, ↑biting, ↑nipping, ↑pungent • Similar to: ↑ …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 6mordacious — mordaciously, adv. mordacity /mawr das i tee/, n. /mawr day sheuhs/, adj. 1. biting or given to biting. 2. sharp or caustic in style, tone, etc. [1640 50; < L mordaci (s. of mordax given to biting) + OUS] * * * …

    Universalium

  • 7mordacious — adjective a) Biting, causing a physical bite or sting; corrosive b) sharp or caustic in style or tone. See Also: mordant, mordancy …

    Wiktionary

  • 8mordacious — (Roget s Thesaurus II) adjective So sharp as to cause mental pain: acerbic, acid, acidic, acrid, astringent, biting, caustic, corrosive, cutting, mordant, pungent, scathing, sharp, slashing, stinging, trenchant, truculent, vitriolic. See ATTACK,&#8230; …

    English dictionary for students

  • 9mordacious — mÉ”r deɪʃəs /mɔː adj. caustic; sarcastic; tending to wound …

    English contemporary dictionary

  • 10mordacious — [mɔ: deɪʃəs] adjective formal 1》 bitingly sarcastic or abusive. 2》 given to biting. Derivatives mordacity noun Origin C17: from L. mordax, mordac biting + ious …

    English new terms dictionary