Where does “acumen” come from?
Acumen comes from Latin acumen, formed from the Latin noun acus meaning "needle" or "sharp point," ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱ- meaning "to be sharp."
acumen (English): Quickness of perception or discernment;...
Definitions
- Quickness of perception or discernment;...
Ancestry of “acumen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Latin | acūmen | — |
| 2 | Latin | acus | a needle, a pin; bodkin; bran, awn, chaff |
| 3 | Proto-Italic | akus | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eḱus | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eḱ- | sharp |