Acute (meanings) - Revision history

PeterWilson at 13:13, 2 March 2018

2018-03-02T13:13:08Z

PeterWilson at 16:39, 22 March 2016

2016-03-22T16:39:26Z

PeterWilson at 20:16, 1 January 2015

2015-01-01T20:16:39Z

PeterWilson at 00:07, 4 November 2013

2013-11-04T00:07:05Z

PeterWilson at 16:03, 3 November 2013

2013-11-03T16:03:18Z

PeterWilson: New page: The central meaning of the adjective (sometimes used substantively) '''acute''' is 'sharp'. It is specifically applied in certain academic subjects. *In geometry and other mathemat...

2013-11-03T16:02:39Z

New page: The central meaning of the adjective (sometimes used substantively) '''acute''' is 'sharp'. It is specifically applied in certain academic subjects. *In geometry and other mathemat...

New page

The central meaning of the [[adjective]] (sometimes used [[substantive]]ly) '''acute''' is 'sharp'. It is specifically applied in certain academic subjects.
*In geometry and other mathematical contexts, an '''acute''' angle is one of less than 90Â° (i.e. more pointed than a right angle): it is contrasted with an '''[[obtuse]]''' angle (one more open than a right angle). An '''acute angle''' may be no less than 89Â°, and thus hard to for the human eye to distinguish from a right angle; but it is still termed '''acute''', although non-experts sometimes think it means a very pointed angle.
**An '''acute triangle''' is one all three of whose angles are less than 90Â°.
*In medical contexts, '''acute''' is used in distinction from [[chronic]]. '''Acute''' is used of a disorder with a quick or sudden onset, a short course, or both. (It does <u>not</u> mean 'severe' in the medical context, although many lay-people use it that way.)
**It can be applied to aspects of the treatment and care of such disorders, as when a hospital may have '''acute beds''' and '''acute wars''', being places reserved for occupation by sufferers from acute disorders.
*The misuse of the word '''acute''' by laypeople in medical contexts may be related to its use in journalism, particularly in political contexts: an '''acute crisis''' is one that is (becoming) urgent, pressing or severe.
{{wip}}
*In the study of languages, and in typesetting, printing and writing, it is used to name a [[diacritic]] or [[written accent]], the short line sloping upwards towards the right, used over certain letters in languages like French, where it can be seen over the 'e' in ''cafÃ©'' (this 'Ã©' has a 'closer' pronunciation than the unaccented 'e'), and Italian, where it is used to mark stress in such words as ''perchÃ©'' 'why/because'.
**'''Acute''' was also formerly used in [[linguistic]] discussions particularly of classical [[Latin]] and [[Greek]]. It has been revived in some modern discussions of articulation, when considering front, palatal and coronal consonants.

[[Category:clarification of meanings]]
[[Category:academic English]]

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 *'''Acute''' is specifically applied in certain academic subjects.
-**In geometry and other mathematical contexts, an '''acute''' angle is one of less than 90° (i.e. more pointed than a right angle): it is contrasted with an '''[[obtuse]]''' angle (one more open than a right angle). An '''acute angle''' may be no less than 89°, and thus hard to for the human eye to distinguish from a right angle; but it is still termed '''acute''', although non-experts sometimes think it means a very pointed angle.
+**In geometry and other mathematical contexts, an '''acute''' angle is one of less than 90° (i.e. more pointed - sharper -  than a right angle): it is contrasted with an '''[[obtuse]]''' angle (one more open than a right angle). An '''acute angle''' may be no less than 89°, and thus hard to for the human eye to distinguish from a right angle; but it is still termed '''acute''', although non-experts sometimes think it means a very pointed angle.
 ***An '''acute triangle''' is one all three of whose angles are less than 90°.
 **In medical contexts, '''acute''' is used in distinction from [[chronic]]. '''Acute''' is used of a disorder with a quick or sudden onset, a short course, or both. (It does <u>not</u> mean 'severe' in the medical context, although many lay-people use it that way.)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 The central meaning of the [[adjective]] (sometimes used [[substantive]]ly) '''acute''' is 'sharp'.
 *In general usage, it tends to mean
-**'clever', or 'sharp-witted'; 'penetrating' or 'keen'. In this sense, it is often opposed to [[obtuse]] and 'stupid'. This sense has given rise to the [[aphetic]] shortening '''cute''' - sometimes, in the nineteenth century, having its origin pointed out by the spelling ''''cute'''.
+**'clever', or 'sharp-witted'; 'penetrating' or 'keen'. In this sense, it is often opposed to [[obtuse]] and 'stupid'. This sense has given rise to the [[aphetic]] shortening '''cute''' - sometimes, in the nineteenth century, having its origin pointed out by the spelling ''''cute''', with an [[Apostrophe (omission)|apostrophe of omission]].
 **The idea of 'penetrating' gives a use in describing sense-impressions and reactions to them, as in the 'acute pleasure' with which one might greet the 'acute smell' of a rose.
 **A person might also have a 'sharp' or 'keen' powerful perceptiveness of one of the five senses: someone with 'acute' hearing may be able to detect sounds, like bats' calls, inaudible to people with 'duller' hearing
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 ***An '''acute triangle''' is one all three of whose angles are less than 90°.
 **In medical contexts, '''acute''' is used in distinction from [[chronic]]. '''Acute''' is used of a disorder with a quick or sudden onset, a short course, or both. (It does <u>not</u> mean 'severe' in the medical context, although many lay-people use it that way.)
-***Medieval and [[Early Modern English|Early Modern]] texts often identify a disease called 'the '''ague'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> (pronounced as two syllables, 'AIG-you', {{IPA|ˈeɪg juː}}) , which is derived from the same [[etymological root|root]] as ''acute''' through the French ''aigu'', and ''fièvre aigue'', 'acute fever'.
+***Medieval and [[Early Modern English|Early Modern]] texts often identify a disease called 'the '''ague'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> (pronounced as two syllables, 'AIG-you', {{IPA|ˈeɪg juː}}) , which is derived from the same [[etymological root|root]] as '''acute''' through the French ''aigu'', and ''fièvre aigue'', 'acute fever'.
 ***It can be applied to aspects of the treatment and care of such disorders, as when a hospital may have '''acute beds''' and '''acute wards''', being places reserved for occupation by sufferers from acute disorders.
 **The misuse of the word '''acute''' by laypeople in medical contexts may be related to its use in journalism, particularly in political contexts: an '''acute crisis''' is one that is (becoming) urgent, pressing or severe.

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 *'''Acute''' is specifically applied in certain academic subjects.
-**In geometry and other mathematical contexts, an '''acute''' angle is one of less than 90Â° (i.e. more pointed than a right angle): it is contrasted with an '''[[obtuse]]''' angle (one more open than a right angle). An '''acute angle''' may be no less than 89Â°, and thus hard to for the human eye to distinguish from a right angle; but it is still termed '''acute''', although non-experts sometimes think it means a very pointed angle.
+**In geometry and other mathematical contexts, an '''acute''' angle is one of less than 90° (i.e. more pointed than a right angle): it is contrasted with an '''[[obtuse]]''' angle (one more open than a right angle). An '''acute angle''' may be no less than 89°, and thus hard to for the human eye to distinguish from a right angle; but it is still termed '''acute''', although non-experts sometimes think it means a very pointed angle.
-***An '''acute triangle''' is one all three of whose angles are less than 90Â°.
+***An '''acute triangle''' is one all three of whose angles are less than 90°.
 **In medical contexts, '''acute''' is used in distinction from [[chronic]]. '''Acute''' is used of a disorder with a quick or sudden onset, a short course, or both. (It does <u>not</u> mean 'severe' in the medical context, although many lay-people use it that way.)
-***Medieval and [[Early Modern English|Early Modern]] texts often identify a disease called 'the '''ague'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> (pronounced as two syllables, 'AIG-you', {{IPA|ËˆeÉªg juË}}) , which is derived from the same [[etymological root|root]] as ''acute''' through the French ''aigu'', and ''fiÃ¨vre aigue'', 'acute fever'.
+***Medieval and [[Early Modern English|Early Modern]] texts often identify a disease called 'the '''ague'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> (pronounced as two syllables, 'AIG-you', {{IPA|ˈeɪg juː}}) , which is derived from the same [[etymological root|root]] as ''acute''' through the French ''aigu'', and ''fièvre aigue'', 'acute fever'.
 ***It can be applied to aspects of the treatment and care of such disorders, as when a hospital may have '''acute beds''' and '''acute wards''', being places reserved for occupation by sufferers from acute disorders.
 **The misuse of the word '''acute''' by laypeople in medical contexts may be related to its use in journalism, particularly in political contexts: an '''acute crisis''' is one that is (becoming) urgent, pressing or severe.
-**In the study of languages, and in typesetting, printing and writing, it is used to name a [[diacritic]] or [[written accent]], the short line sloping upwards towards the right, used over certain letters in languages like French, where it can be seen over the 'e' in ''cafÃ©'' (this 'Ã©' has a 'closer' pronunciation than the unaccented 'e'), and Italian, where it is used to mark stress in such words as ''perchÃ©'' 'why/because'.
+**In the study of languages, and in typesetting, printing and writing, it is used to name a [[diacritic]] or [[written accent]], the short line sloping upwards towards the right, used over certain letters in languages like French, where it can be seen over the 'e' in ''café'' (this 'é' has a 'closer' pronunciation than the unaccented 'e'), and Italian, where it is used to mark stress in such words as ''perché'' 'why/because'.
 ***'''Acute''' was also formerly used in [[linguistic]] discussions particularly of classical [[Latin]] and [[Greek]]. It has been revived in some modern discussions of articulation, when considering front, palatal and coronal consonants.
-**In botany, '''acute''' is used to mean 'coming to a point', assz for example the leaves of many species. It is also sometimes used to describe the acute angle at which one organ, such as a twig or leaf, leaves another, e.g. a branch or trunk.
+**In botany, '''acute''' is used to mean 'coming to a point', as for example the leaves of many species. It is also sometimes used to describe the acute angle at which one organ, such as a twig or leaf, leaves another, e.g. a branch or trunk.
 **In older writings about music, '''acute''' was used to mean 'high in pitch', or 'shrill'. It was typically used of the soprano register. Medieval theorists of music divided the registers into '''[[grave]]''', '''acute''' and '''superacute'''.