Definition: 1: causing contraction of soft organic tissues : styptic, puckery 2: suggestive of an astringent effect upon tissue : rigidly severe : austere; also : pungent, caustic

Quotation: “Alpine crows screeched overhead, torn in the wind; wind as cold as ice, as astringent as acid.” from The Magus: A Revised Version by John Fowles

Basically this one came up in yesterday’s definition for “sloe“. It probably rang a bell because I’ve seen the word on medicine or lotion bottles, but I know I’ve seen it used with its secondary definitions before, and those are more interesting to me. Thus the quotation.