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What is "mordacious"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Mordacious

Mordacious \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.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
mordacious

"given to biting," 1640s (originally figurative), from Latin mordac-, stem of mordax, from mordere "to bite," perhaps from PIE root mer- (2) "to rub, harm" (see smart (v.)). Related: Mordacity.

Wiktionary
mordacious

a. 1 Biting, causing a physical bite or sting; corrosive 2 sharp or caustic in style or tone. 3 Prone to biting, aggressive (of an animal etc.). 4 Sharp in intent, sarcastic

WordNet
mordacious

  1. adj. capable of wounding; "a barbed compliment"; "a biting aphorism"; "pungent satire" [syn: barbed, biting, nipping, pungent]

  2. biting or given to biting; "they deliberately gave me a skittish and mordacious mount"

Usage examples of "mordacious".

His mordacious propinquity casts a reviling sensation of obscenity about me.

Huld, hopeless and without honor, committed to his endless servitude, his mordacious kinship with horror, and I imagine that he follows them there, down those endless halls, watering the sterile dust with his tears.