Acuteness

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Acuteness \A*cute"ness\, n.
     1. The quality of being acute or pointed; sharpness; as, the
        acuteness of an angle. AS
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The faculty of nice discernment or perception; acumen;


        keenness; sharpness; sensitiveness; -- applied to the
        senses, or the understanding. By acuteness of feeling, we
        perceive small objects or slight impressions: by acuteness
        of intellect, we discern fine distinctions.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Perhaps, also, he felt his professional acuteness
              interested in bringing it to a successful close.
                                                    --Sir W.
                                                    Scott.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Shrillness; high pitch; -- said of sounds.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Med.) Violence of a disease, which brings it speedily to
        a crisis. AS
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Penetration; sagacity; keenness; ingenuity; shrewdness;
          subtlety; sharp-wittedness.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  acuteness
       n 1: a quick and penetrating intelligence; "he argued with great
            acuteness"; "I admired the keenness of his mind" [syn: {acuity},
             {sharpness}, {keenness}]
       2: the quality of having a sharp edge or point [ant: {obtuseness}]