sharpness

Etymology

From Middle English sharpnesse, scharpnesse, from Old English sċearpnes (“sharpness”), equivalent to sharp + -ness.

noun

  1. (uncountable) the cutting ability of an edge; keenness.
  2. (uncountable) the fineness of the point a pointed object.
  3. (countable) The product or result of being sharp.
  4. (of food etc) pungency or acidity.
  5. (of an image) distinctness, focus.
  6. (of intelligence) acuteness or acuity.
    A lack of match sharpness was perhaps to blame for Rooney squandering England's best chance after 27 minutes. June 19, 2012, Phil McNulty, “England 1-0 Ukraine”, in BBC Sport
  7. (obsolete) edge or blade
    CUT-WATER, or KNEE OF THE HEAD [S.] the ſharpneſs of the head of the ſhip, below the beak; 1760, John Marchant, Gent. Mr. Gordon, Daniel Bellamy, and others., A New Complete English Dictionary...
    also thei smytiden bi the scharpnesse of swerd, oxun, and scheep, and assis. ca. 1395, John Wycliffe et al., Joshua 6:21

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