sharpnessn.
/ˈʃɑːpnɪs/ The quality of being sharp.† 5. Shrillness, high pitch (of voice). Obsolete. rare.† 6. Craving (of the stomach) for food. Obsolete.† 7. Steepness. Obsolete. rare.† 8. Prickling sensation, smarting. Obsolete.
1. Keenness or fineness of edge or point.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > sharpness of edge or point > [noun]
sharpnessc725
keenness1530
fineness?1537
acuity1598
acuteness1642
eagerness1831
society > occupation and work > equipment > cutting tool > [noun] > cutting part of > blade or edge of > bite or cut of
sharpnessc725
keenness1530
c725 Corpus Gloss. (Hessels) A 117 Acumen ferri, ecg uel scearpnis.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 444/1 Scharpnesse, of egge, acucies.
c1480 (a1400) St. Vincent 317 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 268 Þe scharpnes of þe schellis.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xii. sig. Pp5v The vnfaythfull armour yeelding to the swoordes strong-guided sharpenesse.
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xx. 387 My lance as well as thine Hath point and sharpenesse.
1787 Hist. Jack & Giants 13 Taking with him the cap of knowledge, sword of sharpness [etc.].
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. iii. v. 196 Herein has Sansculottism fashioned for itself a Sword of Sharpness.
1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 22 Aug. 5/2 A bar of steel..of wonderful temper and sharpness.
2.
a. Intellectual acuteness, shrewdness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > sharpness, shrewdness, insight > [noun]
sharpnessc897
yepshipc1000
insightc1175
yepleȝȝcc1175
yephedea1250
wit1297
fellnessa1382
policyc1440
discerningc1450
policec1450
inspectiona1527
perceivance1534
aptitude1548
sagacity1548
acuity?1549
nimbleness1561
acumen1579
seeing eye1579
esprit1591
acuteness1601
depth1605
penetration1605
knowingness1611
shrewdnessa1616
piercingnessa1628
discernment1646
sharpwittedness1647
nasuteness1660
arguteness1662
sagaciousness1678
perceptivity1700
keenness1707
cuteness1768
intuition1780
recollectedness1796
long-headedness1818
perceptiveness1823
kokum1848
incision1862
incisiveness1865
penetrativeness1873
flair1881
hard-boiledness1912
smart1964
spikiness1977
sus1979
c897 K. Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care xvi. 99 Swæðeah for ðære sceawunge ðara ungesewenlicra ðinga ðeah he upaðened wære on his modes scearpnesse.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) ii. xx. 47 The euyll angellis haue thre maner of sharpenesse [L. Triplici acumine vigent demones].
1532 B. Tuke in Wks. G. Chaucer Pref. sig. Aijv Suche sharpnesse or quycknesse in conclusyon.
1646 H. Peake Medit. upon Seige 55 Nor let them want sharpnesse to discerne, nor courage to execute what should be done in such exigencies.
1814 W. Wilson Hist. Dissenting Churches IV. 486 Wickliff..possessed a sharpness of wit.
1895 Law Times 99 547/1 An articled clerk of average sharpness may rely upon getting through with three months' coaching.
b. Acuteness of the senses or organs of sense.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > acuteness of physical senses > [noun]
sharpnessc888
quicknessa1398
subtlenessa1398
acuteness1644
keenness1859
c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxxiv. §8 Ne heora scearpnesse nauht gebetað to þære sceawunga þære soðan gesælðe.
1604 King James VI & I Counterblaste to Tobacco sig. C So loath will they be, to bee thought inferiour to their fellowes..in..sharpnesse of sight.
1709 G. Berkeley Ess. New Theory of Vision §80. 92 No exquisite Formation of the Eye, no peculiar Sharpness of Sight.
1835 G. P. R. James Gipsy ii The hearing of those whose safety often depends upon the sharpness of their ears.
c. Keenness (of observation).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > notice, observation > [noun] > closeness of observation
vigilancy1537
vigilance1570
watchfulness1611
sharpness1823
1823 W. Scott Peveril II. i. 17 The utmost sharpness of attention which Julian applied, could not discover if Bridgenorth spoke seriously or ironically to the above purpose.
3. Pungency to the taste; acidity, sourness, tartness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [noun]
sharpnessc1000
sournessc1050
sourheada1400
eagerness?a1425
verdure1508
tartness1530
acetosity1599
acidity1615
sourfulness1617
tetricity1623
tetritude1656
tartarousness1657
acidness1660
sourishness1670
fieriness1675
acescency1756
c1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 224/22 Þæs ecedes afre scearpnes.
a1023 Wulfstan Homilies v. 35 Þæs sealtes scearpnesse.
a1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula 59 Emoroidez ar caused of scharpnes of blode and ouer mych hete brennyng þe blode.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde ii. i. f. 56 These apples..haue a certeyne sweetnes myxte with a gentell sharpnes.
1669 W. Charleton Mysterie of Vintners in Two Disc. 150 The Sulphur..infects the whole mass of liquor with Sharpness or Acidity.
1701 G. Stanhope tr. St. Anselm in tr. St. Augustine Pious Breathings 348 Make me sometimes taste the sharpness of thy Vinegar.
1839 Mrs. Kirkland in R. W. Griswold Prose Writers Amer. (1847) 464 Her vinegar is..the ne plus ultra of sharpness.
4. † b. Austerity, asceticism. Obsolete.† c. Acrimony, exasperated condition. Obsolete.† d. Severity (of weather), keenness, intensity (of heat, cold, etc.). Obsolete.
a. Severity, harshness in punishment; censure, rebuke, etc.; asperity in behaviour.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > strictness > [noun] > severity or sternness
rethenesseOE
grimness971
hardnessOE
sternhead1297
sharpnessa1325
reddoura1375
fiercetya1382
sternness1382
fiercenessc1384
sturdinessc1384
fellnessc1410
austeritya1425
raddourc1440
austerenessa1450
severity1530
cruelness1537
cruelty1556
severeness1579
tender mercies1611
piquancya1677
Draconianism1819
astringency1823
Draconism1832
hard-handedness1849
starkness1884
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > harshness or severity > [noun]
rethenesseOE
grimness971
sternhead1297
sharpnessa1325
reddoura1375
sternness1382
fiercenessc1384
sturdinessc1384
duressc1400
fellnessc1410
austeritya1425
harshnessc1480
roughness1530
severity1530
durity1543
ungentleness1548
severeness1579
ruggedness1638
atrocity1641
austereness1646
piquancya1677
Draconianism1819
astringency1823
Draconism1832
starkness1884
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > criticism > [noun] > instance of > sharp > quality
sharpnessa1325
spinosity1605
snippiness1935
a1325 Prose Psalter ii. 9 Þou schalt gouernen hem in Scharpnes.
c1425 Bk. Found. St. Bartholomew's (1923) 25 A certeyne bocheyr, Goderyke by name, A man of grete sharpnesse more than semyd hym.
1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. xv. 262 The sharpenesse of his correction.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iii. iii. 34 Thou must not take my former sharpenesse ill. View more context for this quotation
a1721 J. Sheffield Wks. (1753) I. 75 Some did our follies with just sharpness blame.
1827 W. Scott Surgeon's Daughter in Chron. Canongate 1st Ser. II. ii. 55 An eye of much sharpness and severity of expression.
1867 A. Trollope Last Chron. Barset II. lxvii. 245 In spite of the sharpness of her tongue.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > asceticism > [noun]
sharpness1340
austerenessa1450
austerityc1450
rigourc1450
severity1481
severeness1579
asceticism1845
ascetism1850
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 187 Vele men makeþ to god sacrefices of uestinges, of peregrinages, of ssarpnesses of bodye.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 10 Þou louedyst no scharpenesse of penaunce.
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 83 Penaunce..ys done in sorowe of harte, and sharpenesse of body.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > bitterness > [noun]
rancourc1380
nitrosity?a1425
sour cheerc1440
amaritude1490
fellc1494
rust?1507
stomach grief1553
virulencya1617
ranklea1632
embitteredness1643
embitterment1645
virulence1663
sharpness1673
virulentnessa1676
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > unkindness > bitterness > [noun]
rancourc1380
bitterness1382
sour cheerc1440
amaritude1490
fellc1494
rust?1507
aloea1529
stomach?1553
stomach grief1553
virulencya1617
coloquintida1622
nitrosity1634
embitteredness1643
embitterment1645
virulence1663
sharpness1673
virulentnessa1676
acerbation1793
1673 W. Temple Observ. United Provinces v. 181 All the violence and sharpness, which accompanies the differences of Religion in other Countreys, seems to be appeased or softned here.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 556 He expressed a very Christian temper, without sharpness or resentment.
1733 D. Neal Hist. Puritans II. 601 Such was the sharpness of men's spirits on both sides.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cold weather > [noun] > very cold weather > intensity of
bitterness971
sharpness1482
snellness1915
1482 Monk of Evesham 94 And yette y am constrayned ful sore to sofyr the scarpnes of colde.
1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Jiij At whiche tyme, ye sharpenes of winter, exceadeth with them.
1662 Gusman's Ephemeris B It will not be common this Month [January] to see Women go with naked shoulders by reason of the Sharpnesse of the Air.
1712 London Gaz. No. 4971/1 The badness of the Roads, and the sharpness of the Season, have hindered the march.
1778 J. Cook Jrnl. 15 Aug. (1967) III. i. 416 The sharpness of the air..seemed to indicate some sudden change.
e. Severity, acuteness (of pain or sorrow); painfulness, hardship.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > mental anguish or torment > [noun] > severity or acuteness
tartnessc1000
hardship?c1225
smartness1340
sharpnessa1400
gripea1547
pungency1649
severity1835
the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > types of pain > [noun] > smarting or stinging > sharpness of pain
aspernessc1374
sharpnessa1400
a1400 Prymer, Te Deum (1895) 7 Whanne þou haddist ouercome þe scharpnesse of deeþ [L. mortis aculeo].
c1410 J. Lydgate Life Our Lady lx. (1484) i v For sharpenes of the sodayn smerte The chylde gan wepe.
a1530 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfeccyon (1531) iii. f. CCiiiiv He suffred the sharpnes & smart of payne, ye suche as neuer was suffred.
1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes ii. §24. 166 What need is it to shew the sharpnesse of this famine by things that want life?
1709 London Gaz. No. 4521/2 Our Loss has been very great, the Action having been so severe, and the sharpness of the whole having lain upon our Ship.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [noun] > piercing or shrill quality
sharpness1398
squeakiness1846
piercingness1888
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) (1495) v. xxiii It is seide þat cause of scharpenes and of chaunging of voice is by chaungeing of age.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > hunger > [noun]
hungerc825
appetite1303
famec1515
sharpness1581
suction1615
meat-will1643
sucking1656
sharpsetness1673
esurition1678
stomach-worm1788
hunger-pain1820
yird-hunger1825
appetizement1826
yapness1828
esuriencea1834
peckishness1871
sinking feeling1890
1581 W. Stafford Compend. Exam. Complaints (1876) i. 15 When we had eate somewhat to satisfie the sharpnesse of our stomackes.
1673 Gentlewomans Compan. 67 The sharpness of my stomach shall never make me feed uncleanly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > slope > [noun] > steep > quality or condition of being
pronity1524
sharpness1585
suddenness1594
abruptness1603
steepiness1609
precipitationa1616
precipice1650
precipitousness1832
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. i. 1 The height and sharpnesse of the mount Rhodope.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iv. xxiii. 139 A mount of great highnesse and sharpnesse.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > types of pain > [noun] > pricking or tingling
prickinga1398
tinglinga1450
punction1596
dindling1597
compunction1604
punto1617
prickling1656
sharpness1694
puncture1709
puncturation1733
pins and needles1813
tingle1832
pringling1890
1694 W. Salmon Pharmacopœia Bateana i. ii. 96/1 Inflamations, Pains, and sharpness of the Eyes.
9.
a. Distinctness of outline or impression.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > [noun] > state of being clearly visible > sharpness or definition
sharpness1771
definition1859
1771 M. Raper in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 61 475 Three gold coins of Philip, which have all the sharpness of new money fresh from the mint.
1837 C. R. Goring & A. Pritchard Micrographia 82 A picture whose sharpness and clearness is a maximum.
1884 Macm. Mag Oct. 444/2 That word which still retains the sharpness of its stamp and milling.
1907 J. A. Hodges Elem. Photogr. (ed. 6) 20 This question of definition, or sharpness of image.
b. Physical Science. The extent to which a phenomenon, condition, etc., is sharp (sense 12b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic phenomena > [noun] > oscillation > resonance > quality of
sharpness1906
1906 G. Eichhorn Wireless Telegr. vi. 40 Wien clearly demonstrated the greater sharpness of resonance in loosely-coupled systems than in the simple system.
1921 L. B. Turner Wireless Telegr. iii. 22 The ‘peakiness’ of this curve measures the ‘sharpness of tuning’.
1966 F. A. Cotton & G. Wilkinson Adv. Inorg. Chem. (ed. 2) xxvii. 733 (caption) Note the greater sharpness of the solution spectra.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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