## Meanings
1. very serious or severe
2. (of an illness) starting quickly and lasting a short time
3. sharp and able to notice small differences quickly

## Examples
- There is an acute shortage of clean water in the region.
- He was taken to hospital with acute appendicitis.
- Dogs have an acute sense of smell.

## Derived Forms
- acuity
- acutance
- acutangular
- acute-angled
- acutely
- acuteness
- acutish
- cute
- hyperacute
- nonacute
- post-acute
- superacute

## Related Forms
- ague

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₂eḱ-
- Root: acute
- Root: acūta

## Etymology
From Late Middle English acute (“of a disease or fever: starting suddenly and lasting for a short time; of a humour: irritating, sharp”), from Latin acūta, from acūtus (“sharp, sharpened”), perfect passive participle of acuō (“to make pointed, sharpen, whet”), from acus (“needle, pin”). The word is cognate to ague (“acute, intermittent fever”). As regards the noun, which is derived from the verb, compare Middle English acūte (“severe but short-lived fever; of blood: corrosiveness, sharpness; musical note of high pitch”).

## AI Etymology
Acute comes from Late Middle English acute (“of a disease or fever: starting suddenly and lasting for a short time; of a humour: irritating, sharp”), from Latin acūta, from acūtus (“sharp, sharpened”), perfect passive participle of acuō (“to make pointed, sharpen, whet”), from acus (“needle, pin”). The word is cognate to ague (“acute, intermittent fever”). As regards the noun, which is derived from the verb, compare Middle English acūte (“severe but short-lived fever; of blood: corrosiveness, sharpness; musical note of high pitch”).

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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