Word of the day: Acuity

Acuity

[ə-KYOO-ə-dee]

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Latin, 16th century

Sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing.

Examples of acuity in a sentence

"Jonah’s natural acuity made him a model student."

"The optician noticed a decline in the acuity of Martha’s sight in recent years."

About Acuity

“Acuity” comes from the Latin “acuere,” meaning “sharpen.” The word “acuere” is found in medieval Latin as “acuitas,” and in Old French as “acuite.”

Did you Know?

“Acuity” shares the same Latin root word as “acute,” a word that, depending on context, can have a similar meaning to the former term. “Acute” can mean “having or showing a perceptive insight,” but it can also mean “experienced to a severe or intense degree.” It has a third meaning as well; “acute” refers to an angle of less than 90 degrees.