peracutus Latin · revision 36225

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=ine-pro *h₂eḱ-u-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [pɛ.raˈkuː.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [pe.raˈkuː.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''peracūtus''' (feminine peracūta, neuter peracūtum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|per-|acūtus|t1=very, thoroughly|t2=sharp]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan lists [[m|la|acūtus]] among the derivatives of a stem ⟨acu-⟩ “pointed”, which goes back to [[itc-pro|*aku-]] and [[ine-pro|*h₂eḱ-u-|t=pointed]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[lt|ãšutas|t=hair of a horse's tail or mane]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) and the TLL calls it a word Cicero used often.^(TLL) In ''De oratore'' he speaks of very acute precepts for handling people's minds.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Cicero uses it of a very penetrating, clear voice in the ''Brutus'',^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) and more often of the mind: a man very sharp at thinking things out, a sharp and artful kind of speech, a man naturally very shrewd and prudent, and, ironically in the ''Philippics'', little maxims that an opponent thinks very clever.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The TLL notes that, unlike ''acutus'' and ''praeacutus'', it is never used in its proper sense of tools; an older reading ''peracuta falce'' in Martial has been replaced in modern editions.^(TLL)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ British medieval writers did use it of sharp things, a very sharp spit or the keen edge of a sword, and of a very acute fever.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of shrewd precepts and of a penetrating voice.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # (of sound) Very [[m|en|penetrating]], [[m|en|shrill]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Intellectually very sharp, very [[m|en|shrewd]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Very sharp, keen-edged;^(DMLBS) (of disease) very [[m|en|acute]].^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[acūtus]]

+ * [[acuō]]

+ * [[praeacūtus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}