Sharpness

Sharp′ness

,

Noun.

[AS.

scearpness

.]

The quality or condition of being sharp; keenness; acuteness.

,

Noun.

1. Keenness of an edge or point; as the sharpness of a razor or a dart.

2. Not obtuseness.

3. Pungency; acidity; as the sharpness of vinegar.

4. Pungency of pain; keenness; severity of pain or affliction; as the sharpness of pain, grief or anguish.

5. Painfulness; afflictiveness; as the sharpness or calamity.

And the best quarrels in the heat are curst

By those that feel their sharpness. Shak.

6. Sverity of language; pungency; satirical sarcasm; as the sharpness of a satire or rebuke.

Some did all folly with just sharpness blame. Dryden.

7. Acuteness of intellect; the power of nice discernment; quickness of understanding; ingenuity; as sharpness of wit or understanding.

8. Quickness of sense or perception; as the sharpness of sight.

9. Keenness; sverity as the sharpness of the air or weather.

See also: sharpness

Sharpness

See also: Sharpness

sharpness ‎(countable and uncountable, plural sharpnesses)

(uncountable) the cutting ability of an edge; keenness
(uncountable) the fineness of the point a pointed object
(countable) The product or result of being sharp.
(of food etc) pungency or acidity
(of an image) distinctness, focus
(of intelligence) acuteness or acuity
- 2012 June 19, Phil McNulty, “England 1-0 Ukraine”, in BBC Sport:
  A lack of match sharpness was perhaps to blame for Rooney squandering England's best chance after 27 minutes.
(obsolete) edge or blade
- 1760, John Marchant, Gent. Mr. Gordon, Daniel Bellamy, and others., A New Complete English Dictionary...:
  CUT-WATER, or KNEE OF THE HEAD [S.] the ſharpneſs of the head of the ſhip, below the beak;
- ca. 1395, John Wycliffe et al., Joshua 6:21:
  also thei smytiden bi the scharpnesse of swerd, oxun, and scheep, and assis.