acumen etymology

Etymology

  • Latin: acumen, "sharp point, keenness of mind"
  • Proto-Indo-European: *ak- ("sharp")

Meaning and Origin

Acumen originally referred to the pointed end of something sharp, such as a spear or knife. Figuratively, it came to mean "keenness of mind" or "mental sharpness." The word was first used in English in the early 17th century.

Acumen implies:

  • Sharpness of intellect
  • Discernment or insight
  • Ability to perceive and analyze complex information
  • Judiciousness and sound reasoning
  • Capacity for understanding and interpreting hidden meanings or patterns

Acumen is often associated with qualities such as:

  • Intellectual curiosity
  • Curiosity
  • Critical thinking
  • Problem-solving abilities
  • Decision-making skills

acumen relate terms

  • acuminate

    Etymology Latin acūminātus past participle of acūmināre to sharpen From a

  • acumen

    Etymology Latin acumen sharp point keenness of mind Proto Indo European ak sha

  • acacia

    Etymology Greek akakia Meaning Thorn tree Origin The word acacia comes fro

  • acanthus

    Etymology The word acanthus is derived from the Ancient Greek word ἄκανθος aka

  • accipiter

    Etymology The word accipiter comes from the Latin word accipere which means to tak

  • acer

    Etymology The word acer has its origins in the Latin word acer meaning sharp or po

  • acerbic

    Etymology Latin acerbus sharp bitter harsh Proto Indo European ak r sour sha

  • acerbity

    Etymology From Middle English acerbite from Old French acerbité from Latin acerbitās

  • acervate

    Etymology Latin acervus meaning heap or pile Proto Indo European ḱer meaning

  • acervulus

    Etymology Late Latin acervulus small heap Latin acervus heap pile Meaning

  • acescent

    Etymology Latin acescens entis present participle of acescere meaning to beco

  • acetic

    Etymology The word acetic comes from the Latin word acetum meaning vinegar Mean

  • acid

    Etymology The word acid comes from the Latin word acidus meaning sour This word i

  • acicular

    Etymology Latin acicularis needle shaped Latin acus needle Meaning Needl

  • acme

    Etymology The word acme comes from the Greek word ἀκμή akmē which means pe

  • acne

    Etymology Latin acne Greek ἀκμή akmē point acme full bloom Meaning

  • acrid

    Etymology The word acrid comes from the Late Latin word acris meaning sharp or

  • acridity

    Etymology Old French aigre sour sharp Latin acer sharp sour Proto Indo European

  • acrimony

    Etymology Late Latin acrimonia from acer sharp bitter Meaning A bitter har

  • acro

    Etymology The word acro is derived from the Greek word ἄκρα akra which means

  • acrobat

    Etymology The word acrobat comes from the Greek word akrobatēs ακροβάτης

  • acromegaly

    Etymology and Meaning The word acromegaly is derived from Greek ἄκρος akros

  • acronym

    Acronym Etymology From Greek akron topmost and onyma name Meaning A word

  • acrophobia

    Etymology Acro Greek high Phobia Greek fear Meaning Acrophobia is an int

  • acropolis

    Etymology Greek ακρόπολις akropolis Meaning and Origin The word acropo

  • acrostic

    A Crostic derives from the Greek words ἄκρος ákros top and στίχος stíc

  • acrylic

    Etymology Acrylic is derived from the Greek word akros meaning tip or point Me

  • acuity

    Etymology Acuity comes from the Latin word acutus meaning sharp or pointed Mea

  • aculeate

    Etymology Latin aculeatus from aculeus meaning sting or thorn Meaning Having

  • acumen

    Etymology Latin acumen sharp point keenness of mind Proto Indo European ak sha

  • acupressure

    Etymology The word acupressure is derived from two Latin words acus meaning needl

  • acupuncture

    Etymology Origin of the Word Acupuncture is derived from the Latin words acus

  • acute

    Etymology Derived from the Latin word acutus meaning sharp pointed or keen Me

  • aglet

    Etymology Aglet is derived from Medieval Latin aguleta meaning lace tag It is b

  • ague

    Etymology From Middle English ague from Old French aigue from Latin acuta febris lite

  • Akron

    Etymology The name Akron is of Greek origin deriving from the word akros meaning

  • anoxic

    Etymology The word anoxic comes from two Greek words an ἀν meaning without

  • coelacanth

    Etymology Coelacanth is derived from the Greek words koilos meaning hollow or cav

  • deoxy

    Etymology The word deoxy comes from the Greek roots de meaning lacking or witho

  • eager

    Etymology The word eager comes from the Middle English word egre meaning sharp s

  • edge

    Etymology Old English ecg meaning border boundary brink Middle English egge

  • eglantine

    Etymology Late Latin eglantine Old French eglantine Occitan eglantier Vulgar Latin

  • epoxy

    Etymology Greek ἐπ epi on ὀξυς oxys sharp Meaning A resinous

  • ester

    Etymology The word ester is derived from the German word Essigäther meaning vinega

  • exacerbation

    Etymology Latin exacerbāre irritate stimulate from ex out acerbāre make b

  • hammer

    Etymology The word hammer comes from the Old English word hamer which is derived fr

  • hypoxia

    Etymology Hypo Greek under oxia Greek lack of oxygen Meaning Hypoxia refers t

  • mediocre

    Etymology The word mediocre originates from the Latin word mediocris which means h

  • oxalic

    Etymology Old English oxilic Greek oxys sharp sour alis relating to M

  • oxide

    Etymology The word oxide is derived from the Greek word oxys which means sharp or

  • oxygen

    Etymology The word oxygen is derived from the Greek roots ὀξύς oxys meanin

  • oxymoron

    Etymology Oxymoron Derived from the Greek words oxy sharp and moron dull Me

  • paragon

    Etymology New Latin from Greek parágōnos beside by along from para along besi

  • pyracanth

    Etymology The word pyracanth is derived from the Greek words pyr πῦρ meaning

  • paroxysm

    Etymology Greek paroxyśmos spasmodic fit from paroxynein to provoke irritate fr

  • selvage

  • vinegar

    Etymology The word vinegar originates from the Middle French word vinaigre which its

  • perspicacity

    Etymology Perspicacity originates from the Latin word perspicacitās which is deriv

  • denomination

    Etymology The term denomination originates from the Latin word denominare meaning t

  • wonder

    Etymology The word wonder comes from the Old English word wundor meaning a marvelo

  • sedulous

    Etymology Latin sedulus meaning diligent assiduous watchful Indo European sed m

  • quarantine

    Etymology The word quarantine originates from the Italian word quaranta meaning for

  • sandwich

    Etymology The word sandwich is believed to have originated in the late 18th century It

  • mentor

    Etymology The word mentor is derived from the Greek name Méntōr who was a wise and

  • scruple

    Etymology Middle English scropele scropil from Old French escrupule escrople from L

  • Elizabeth

    Etymology The name Elizabeth is derived from the Greek name Ἑλισάβετ Elisabet

  • fluke

    Etymology The word fluke has several possible etymologies Scandinavian Derived fro