Acutely

adv. [f. ACUTE a. + -LY².] In an acute or sharp manner; hence

  1.  Of things material: Sharply. (Late in this sense.)

1874.  Boutell, Arms & Armour, viii. 128. Having the acutely-peaked visor or mesail lowered and closed. Ibid., x. 196. Acutely pointed at the toe.

  2.  Of senses and feelings: Keenly, delicately; sharply, poignantly.

1838.  Dickens, Nich. Nick., xii. (C. D. ed.), 89. Acutely felt by one so sensitive as Nicholas.

1842.  Macaulay, Fredk. Gt., 58. The sore places where sarcasm would be most acutely felt.

  3.  Of the mental faculties: With ready or quick apprehension, with keen penetration, shrewdly.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, I. i. 221. I am so full of businesses, I cannot answere thee acutely.

1673.  Lady’s Calling, I. § 4. 30. Some new comer perhaps has better refined the art, and do’s the same thing more acutely and ingeniously.

1756–82.  J. Warton, Ess. on Pope, II. § 12. 282. A line which Bentley has explained very acutely.

1864.  Burton, Scot Abroad, II. ii. 158. The project was acutely conceived.