acumen

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈækjʊmən/, /əˈkjuːmən/ (UK); /ˈækjəmən/, /əˈkjumən/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin acumen (“a point, a sting; sharpness of mind”),^{[2][3][4][5][6]} from acuere “to sharpen”,^{[2][3][4][5][6]} which is related to acus “needle”.^[2][4] It is related to acute.^[3][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Sharpness of wit; quick and penetrating perception (1531).^[7][3]

Semantic evolution

The Latin word meant literally “a point”, and figuratively “mental sharpness, shrewdness”;^[4] English took over only the figurative sense.^[4][7] A botanical sense, a tapering point on a plant, is recorded from 1794.^[7][1] Today the word is used especially of shrewd judgment in practical matters such as business.^[5][6] Merriam-Webster dates it about 1579, later than the OED and Barnhart;^[5][7][3] Random House gives 1525–35.^[6]

Timeline

• 1531 – keenness of perception (OED, Barnhart).^[7][3]
• 1530s – Etymonline's date.^[4]
• c. 1579 – first date in Merriam-Webster.^[5]
• 1794 – (botany) a tapering point.^[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. Quick, accurate and keen judgment or insight, especially in practical matters; shrewdness.
2. (botany) A sharp, tapering point on a plant.

Related words

• acute
• acuity
• acid
• acme

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
4. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c d e Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
7. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press