When you say 'asperity' are you speaking French?

'Asperity' is a word borrowed from French 'asperite'. The word entered the English language some time around the 13th century.

asperity [noun] [13th century]

• rigor
• roughness of surface
• unevenness
• a tiny projection from a surface
• roughness of sound

See 'asperity' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Middle English 'asprete' from Anglo-French 'aspreté' from 'aspre' rough, from Latin 'asper' from Old Latin '*absperos' from 'ab-' ab- + '-speros;' akin to Sanskrit 'apasphura' repelling, Latin 'spernere' to spurn

See more loan words from 1200s.