English
sharpness
Sharpness comes from Old English sċearp ‘sharp’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *(s)kerb-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)kerb-reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*skarpaz‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*skarp‘sharp’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150sċearp‘sharp’
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150sċearpnes
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500sharpnesse
- Englishearliest quotation ca. 1395sharpness
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)kerb-reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*skarpaz‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*skarp‘sharp’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150sċearp‘sharp’
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150sċearpnes
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500sharpnesse
- Englishearliest quotation ca. 1395sharpness
Earliest quotation: ca. 1395, John Wycliffe et al.: “also thei smytiden bi the scharpnesse of swerd, oxun,…”
Formed from sharp + -ness
Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- ‘to cut’
…
Proto-Germanic *skarpaz ‘sharp’
Proto-West Germanic *skarp ‘sharp’
Old English sċearp ‘sharp’
Middle English scharp ‘sharp’
English sharp
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *(s)kerb-
Today it means
noun the cutting ability of an edge; keenness.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *(s)kerb- / sharpness