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Acute

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means severe; sharp; less than 90 degrees

Where does the word "acute" come from? It comes from Latin acutus, adopted directly into English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
acutus
Latin · ancient
"sharpened"
past participle of 'acuere', to sharpen, the root of 'acumen'
2
Stage 2 of 2
acute
English · 1400s
"sharp"
first recorded before 1398 in John Trevisa's translation of a Latin encyclopedia; 'acute angle' dates from the 1500s and 'acute accent' from the 1600s
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Acute’s story begins in Latin: acutus meant “sharpened.” Past participle of 'acuere', to sharpen, the root of 'acumen'. It reached English by 1400s as acute. First recorded before 1398 in John Trevisa's translation of a Latin encyclopedia; 'acute angle' dates from the 1500s and 'acute accent' from the 1600s. Today, acute means severe; sharp; less than 90 degrees.