sourness
(ˈsaʊənɪs)
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. 1731 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 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 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 Let. 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. |