Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “acuteness” come from?

Acuteness comes from Middle English -nesse combined with Latin acutus, derived from Latin acuo meaning "to sharpen," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱ- meaning "sharp."

acuteness (English): The quality of being acute or pointed; The...

Definitions

  1. The quality of being acute or pointed; The...

Ancestry of “acuteness”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishacūte—
2Frenchaigusharp, pointy; acute, keen, discerning; sharp,...
3Germanakutacute; severe
4Italianacutoacute; sharp; high-pitched, high, shrill
5Russianаку́т—
6Spanishagudosharp, pointed, acute; acute, sharp, witty, keen;...
7Latinacūtus—
8Latinacuō—
9Latinacusa needle, a pin; bodkin; bran, awn, chaff
10Proto-Italicakus—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eḱus—
12Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eḱ-sharp
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱ- →