Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SHARP, a. [Sax. scearp; D. scherp; G. scharf; Dan. and Sw. skarp; Turk. scerp; probably from the root of shear, shire, short; the radical letters being Cr or Gr.]

1. Having a very thin edge or fine point; keen; acute; not blunt. Thus we say, a sharp knife, or a sharp needle. A sharp edge easily severs a substance; a sharp point is easily made to penetrate it.
2. Terminating in a point or edge; not obtuse; as, a hill terminates in a sharp peak, or a sharp ridge.
3. Forming an acute or too small angle at the ridge; as, a sharp roof.
4. Acute of mind; quick to discern or distinguish; penetrating; ready at invention; witty; ingenious. Nothing makes men sharper than want. – Addison. Many other things belong to the material world, wherein the sharpest philosophers have not yet obtained clear ideas. – Watts.
5. Being of quick or nice perception; applied to the senses or organs of perception; as, a sharp eye; sharp sight. To sharp ey'd reason this would seem untrue. – Dryden.
6. Affecting the organs of taste like fine points; sour; acid; as, sharp vinegar; sharp tasted citrons. – Dryden.
7. Affecting the organs of hearing like sharp points; piercing; penetrating; shrill; as, a sharp pound or voice; a sharp note or tone; opposed to a flat note or sound.
8. Severe; harsh; biting; sarcastic; as, sharp words; sharp rebuke. Be thy the words severe, / Sharp as he merits; but the sword forbear. – Dryden.
9. Severely rigid; quick or severe in punishing; cruel. To that place the sharp Athenian law / Can not pursue us. – Shak.
10. Eager for food; keen; as, a sharp appetite.
11. Eager in pursuit; keen in request. My falchion now is sharp and passing empty. – Shak.
12. Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; as, a sharp contest. A sharp assault already is begun. – Dryden.
13. Keen; severe; pungent; as, sharp pain.
14. Very painful or distressing; as, sharp tribulation; a sharp fit of the gout.
15. Very attentive or vigilant. Sharp at her utmost ken she cast her eyes. – Dryden.
16. Making nice calculations of profit; or close and exact in making bargains or demanding dues. – Swift.
17. Biting; pinching; piercing; as, sharp air; sharp wind or weather. – Ray.
18. Subtil; nice; witty; acute; used of things; as, a sharp discourse.
19. Among workmen, hard; as, sharp sand. – Moxon.
20. Emaciated; lean; thin; as, a sharp visage. – Milton. To brace sharp, in seamanship, to turn the yards to the most oblique position possible, that the ship may lay well up to the wind. – Mar. Dict.