Where does “visual acuity” come from?
visual acuity (English) comes from English acuity, from Middle French acuité, from Medieval Latin acuitas, from Latin acuō, from Latin acus, from Proto-Italic akus, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱus, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱ- — sharp.
visual acuity (English): The sharpness of vision or sight; Strength of...
Definitions
- The sharpness of vision or sight; Strength of...
Ancestry of “visual acuity”, step by step
visual acuity traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English acuity
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | acuity | Sharpness or acuteness, as of a needle, wit, etc |
| 2 | Middle French | acuité | — |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | acuitas | — |
| 4 | Latin | acuō | to make pointed, sharpen, whet |
| 5 | Latin | acus | a needle, a pin; bodkin; bran, awn, chaff |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | akus | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eḱus | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eḱ- | sharp |