FromMiddle Englishsharpnesse,scharpnesse, fromOld Englishsċearpnes(“sharpness”), equivalent tosharp +-ness.
sharpness (countable anduncountable,pluralsharpnesses)
- (uncountable) thecuttingability of anedge;keenness.
- (uncountable) the fineness of the point a pointed object.
- (countable) The product or result of beingsharp.
1950 April, Timothy H. Cobb, “The Kenya-Uganda Railway”, inRailway Magazine, page263:The first thing that strikes the stranger is thesharpness of the curves on the metre gauge; it is not unusual for a long train to be travelling in three directions at once, and the engine is frequently in full view of the windows of the ninth or tenth carriage.
- (of food etc)pungency oracidity.
- (of an image)distinctness,focus.
- (of intelligence)acuteness oracuity.
1861 June 14, “Amusements.”, inThe New York Times[1]:Mrs. PAGE is gifted with a pleasing voice, which is yet imperfectly weeded of certainsharpnesses, but seems susceptible of a wide range of melodious inflection.
2012 June 19, Phil McNulty, “England 1-0 Ukraine”, inBBC Sport[2]:A lack of matchsharpness was perhaps to blame for Rooney squandering England's best chance after 27 minutes.
- (obsolete)edge orblade
1760, John Marchant, Gent. Mr. Gordon, Daniel Bellamy, and others.,A New Complete English Dictionary...[3]:CUT-WATER, orKNEE OF THE HEAD [S.] theſharpneſs of the head of the ſhip, below the beak;
ca. 1395, John Wycliffeet al.,Joshua 6:21[4]:also thei smytiden bi thescharpnesse of swerd, oxun, and scheep, and assis.
cutting ability of an edge
Translations to be checked
