acuity

acuity
acuity (n.) early 15c., from M.Fr. acuité (16c.) or directly from M.L. acuitatem (nom. acuitas) "sharpness," from L. acuere "to sharpen," related to acus "needle," acuere "to sharpen," from PIE root *ak- "rise to a point, be sharp" (see ACRID (Cf. acrid)).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Acuity — may refer to:*Visual acuity, the behavioral ability to resolve fine image details *Acuity Insurance, an insurance company with headquarters in Sheboygan, Wisconsin *Acuity Solutions, a manufacturing consulting company with headquarters in Tigard …   Wikipedia

  • Acuity — A*cu i*ty, n. [LL. acuitas: cf. F. acuit[ e].] Sharpness or acuteness, as of a needle, wit, etc. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • acuity — index insight, perception, sagacity Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • acuity — ► NOUN ▪ sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing. ORIGIN Latin acuitas, from acus needle …   English terms dictionary

  • acuity — [ə kyo͞o′ə tē] n. [Fr acuité < ML acuitas < L acus, needle: see ACEROSE1] acuteness; keenness, as of thought or vision …   English World dictionary

  • acuity — 1. Sharpness, clearness, distinctness. 2. Severity. [thr. Fr., fr. L. acuo, pp. acutus, sharpen] absolute intensity threshold a. the minimal light that can be seen. resolution a. detection of a target having two or more parts, often measured by… …   Medical dictionary

  • acuity — /euh kyooh i tee/, n. sharpness; acuteness; keenness: acuity of vision; acuity of mind. [1375 1425; late ME acuite < OF < ML, LL acuitas, equiv. to L acu(ere) to sharpen or acu(tus) sharpened (see ACUTE) + itas ITY] * * * …   Universalium

  • acuity — n. mental; visual acuity * * * [ə kjuːɪtɪ] visual acuity mental …   Combinatory dictionary

  • acuity — [[t]ækju͟ːɪti[/t]] N UNCOUNT Acuity is sharpness of vision or hearing, or quickness of thought. [FORMAL] Caffeine gives a boost of energy and temporarily sharpens mental acuity …   English dictionary

  • acuity — a•cu•i•ty [[t]əˈkyu ɪ ti[/t]] n. sharpness; acuteness; keenness: visual acuity; acuity of mind[/ex] • Etymology: 1375–1425; < OF < ML, LL acuitās= L acu(ere) to sharpen or acū(tus) sharpened (see acute) + itās ity …   From formal English to slang

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