Acerbic is an adjective meaning "sharp and biting in tone, manner, or taste". Historically, it is from Latin acerbus ('bitter, sharp, harsh') + -ic, from acer ('sharp, keen'), from Proto-Indo-European *h2eḱ- ('sharp, pointed'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: acerbic is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The modern meaning, "sharp and biting in tone, manner, or taste", follows the base word through the added English ending. The historical chain links Latin acerbus with Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ-. Close English family members include acerbically, acerb, acerbity, and exacerbate.