Mid 17th century; earliest use found in Robert Gentilis (b. 1590), translator. From classical Latin ācritūdō pungency, bitterness, keenness, energy, harshness, fierceness, cruelty from ācris sharp + -tūdō.
Definition of acritude in US English:
acritude
noun
rare
Acridity.
Origin
Mid 17th century; earliest use found in Robert Gentilis (b. 1590), translator. From classical Latin ācritūdō pungency, bitterness, keenness, energy, harshness, fierceness, cruelty from ācris sharp + -tūdō.