subacid, a. and n.
(sʌbˈæsɪd)
[ad. L. subacidus: see sub- 21 b and acid. Cf. It., Sp. subacido.]
A. adj.
1. a. Somewhat or moderately acid.
| 1669 W. Simpson Hydrol. Chym. 328 It weeps forth a sub⁓acid liquor in great abundance. 1676 Grew Anat. Plants Lect. ii. (1682) 244 Mercury, with Oyl of Vitriol, will not stir, nor with Oyl of Sulphur. But with Spirit of Nitre presently boyls up. Hence Mercury is a subacid Metal. 1725 Bradley's Fam. Dict. s.v. Sallet, The sub-acid Orange, sharpens the Appetite. 1732 Arbuthnot Rules of Diet in Aliments, etc. (1736) 254 All Fruits which contain a sub⁓acid essential salt. 1836 Landor Per. & Asp. Wks. 1846 II. 385 He enjoys a little wine after dinner, preferring the lighter and subacid. 1891 Scrivener Fields & Cities 150 The food of the human being cannot be ‘suitable’ unless varied by sub-acid substances of some kind. |
b. Chem. Containing less than the normal proportion of acid.
| 1855 J. Scoffern in Orr's Circ. Sci., Elem. Chem. 38 With regard to neutral and superacid, or subacid, salts. |
2. Of character, temper, speech, etc.: Somewhat acid or tart; verging on acidity or tartness.
| 1765 Sterne Tr. Shandy VIII. xxvi, From a little sub⁓acid kind of drollish impatience in his nature, he would never submit to it. 1811 Syd. Smith Wks. (1867) I. 205 A stern subacid Dissenter. 1829 Scott Antiq. Advert. ¶7 An excellent temper, with a slight degree of subacid humour. 1876 W. C. Russell Is he the Man? II. 203 A hard, subacid expression..modified the character of her beauty. 1888 Mrs. H. Ward R. Elsmere 428 Rose..was always ready to make him the target of a sub-acid raillery. |
B. n.
1. Subacid quality or flavour, subacidity.
| 1785 A. Seward Let. 7 June (1811) I. 75 That tetchy unprovoked spleen..clouding and staining the lustre of fine talents, and many excellent qualities... Let us all take warning, and correct our acids and sub-acids of every sort. 1838 Ticknor Life, Lett. & Jrnls. II. viii. 145 Rogers..talked in his quiet way.., showing sometimes a little sub⁓acid. 1840 Hood Up Rhine 198 You will perceive a little sub-acid in Markham's statement. 1884 Harper's Mag. July 241/1 The subacid of the strawberry. |
2. A subacid substance.
| 1828–32 Webster, Subacid, a substance moderately acid. 1891 Scrivener Fields & Cities 150 Sub-acids in their most convenient form cannot be put into a pill box. |
Hence subaˈcidity, the quality or condition of being subacid; also, something slightly acid.
| 1833 Carlyle Misc. Ess., Diderot (1888) V. 38 There is a certain sardonic subacidity in Père Hoop. 1886 Law Jrnl. 16 Jan. 37/2 The subacidity which gives special flavour to his style. |