Etymograph

English

acuate

Acuate comes from Latin acuere ‘to sharpen’, from acus ‘needle’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱus‘pointed’reconstructed
  3. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEacus‘needle’
  4. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEacuere‘to sharpen’
  5. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500acuātus
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1764acuate

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱus‘pointed’reconstructed
  3. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEacus‘needle’
  4. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEacuere‘to sharpen’
  5. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500acuātus
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1764acuate

Earliest quotation: 1764, Edward Herbert: “wicked dispositions shou'd have knowledge to acuate their ill…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’

hear, edge, egg, ear, hammer, acid, eager, axe, oxide, vinegar, mediocre, acne, mediocrity, paragon, hark, acacia, acme, acetate, acumen, exacerbate, acuity, acyl, roselle, rosacea, acrimony, acrid, acerbic, exacerbation, 71 more

through Latin acus ‘needle’

acute, acupuncture, 17 more

Today it means

adj Sharpened; sharp-pointed.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- / acuate

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