causticityn.
1. Caustic quality; burning pungent taste; the property of destroying or corroding organic tissue.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [noun] > pungency
peppera1425
tangc1440
mordacity1583
heat1586
saltness1612
piquantness1648
quickness1652
subtilty1661
penetratingness1662
pungency1663
piquancy1664
poignancy1677
mordicancy1693
pertness1756
causticity1772
poignance1782
pungence1810
warmth1816
piquance1867
zinginess1938
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [noun] > corrosion > corrosive quality
corrosiveness1611
edacity1657
causticity1772
corrosivity1796
1772 J. Priestley in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 62 254 Free from causticity.
1791 J. L. Macie in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 81 375 This solution had an alkaline taste, but seemingly with little, if any, causticity.
1802 J. Playfair Illustr. Huttonian Theory 523 The causticity produced in limestone by exposure to fire.
1830 J. Lindley Introd. Nat. Syst. Bot. 7 Acridity, causticity, and poison, are the general characters of this suspicious order.
2. figurative of speech or humour.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > wit, wittiness > [noun] > sharpness
causticity1785
brocard1837
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > caustic or ironic ridicule > [noun] > quality of
satiricalnessa1661
sarcasticalness1710
causticity1785
quipsomeness1881
sarcasticness1903
sardonicism1928
sardony1935
sarkiness1965
1785 H. Walpole Let. 20 June in Corr. (1965) XXXIII. 466 I..endeavoured to repair my causticity.
1829 W. Scott Antiquary (new ed.) I. xiii. 181 With his usual dry causticity of humour.
1866 M. W. Freer Regency Anne of Austria I. i. 20 The duke was witty, and famous for the causticity of his tongue.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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n.1772