English
acrid
Acrid comes from Latin ācris, from ācer ‘sharp’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱrós‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*akris‘sharp’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEācer‘sharp’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEācris
- Englishearliest quotation 2005acrid
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱrós‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*akris‘sharp’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEācer‘sharp’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEācris
- Englishearliest quotation 2005acrid
Earliest quotation: 2005, Christopher Paolini, The Nature of Evil: “At that instant, Eragon's back ruptured in an explosion…”
The story
From Latin ācris, from ācer (‘sharp’); probably assimilated in form to acid.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’
hear, edge, egg, ear, hammer, axe, acid, acute, oxide, acne, paragon, acetate, acupuncture, hark, acacia, acumen, acme, acuity, roselle, acyl, rosacea, 72 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱrós ‘sharp’
through Proto-Italic *akris ‘sharp’
exacerbate, exacerbation, acerbic, 7 more
through Latin ācer ‘sharp’
Today it means
adj Sharp and harsh, or bitter and not to the taste.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- / acrid