英语词源字典 - 在线词源网站

acute (adj.): late 14c., originally of fevers and diseases, "coming and going quickly" (opposed to a chronic), from Latin acutus "sharp, pointed," figuratively "shrill, penetrating; intelligent, cunning," past participle of acuere "sharpen" (see acuity). Meaning "sharp, irritating" is from early 15c. Meaning "intense" is from 1727. Related: Acutely; acuteness.
cute (adj.): 1731, "clever," shortening of acute; informal sense of "pretty" is 1834, American English student slang. Related: Cuteness.
gumption (n.): 1719, originally Scottish, "common sense, shrewdness, acuteness of practical understanding," also "drive, initiative," possibly connected with Middle English gome "attention, heed," from Old Norse gaumr "heed, attention." Sense of "initiative" is first recorded 1812. Related: Gumptious (adj.), attested from 1823.
presbycousis (n.): "loss of hearing acuteness due to age," 1890, medical Latin (by 1886 in German), from Greek presbys "elder, old man" (see presby-) + akousis "hearing," from akouein "to hear" (see acoustic). Related: Presbyotic.
subtility (n.): late 14c., "acuteness, skill, cunning," alteration of subtlety (q.v.) on model of subtile, or else from Old French subtilite, from Latin subtilitas "fineness, simplicity."