astringent

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Causing a dry, puckering feeling in the mouth, as some unripe fruits do.

   The unripe persimmon left an astringent taste on my tongue.

2. 2
   adj

   Sharp and severe in tone or manner.

   Her astringent comments left the new employee feeling deflated.

3. 3
   noun

   A substance that tightens or constricts skin or body tissue.

   She dabbed an astringent on her skin to tighten the pores.

From Latin adstringere (“to bind fast”), from ad (“toward”) + stringere (“bind, pull tight”). Compare stringent.

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