Acute
late Middle English (describing a disease or its symptoms): from Latin acutus, past participle of acuere ‘sharpen’, from acus ‘needle’.
wiktionary
From Late Middle English acūte(“of a disease or fever: starting suddenly and lasting for a short time; of a humour: irritating, sharp”), from Latin acūta, [1] from acūtus(“sharp, sharpened”), perfect passive participle of acuō(“to make pointed, sharpen, whet”), from acus(“needle, pin”), [2] from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ-(“sharp”). 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”). [3]
etymonline
acute (adj.)
late 14c., originally of fevers and diseases, "coming quickly to a crisis" (opposed to chronic), from Latin acutus "sharp, pointed," figuratively "shrill, penetrating; intelligent, cunning," past participle of acuere "to sharpen" (literal and figurative), from PIE root *ak- "be sharp, rise (out) to a point, pierce." Also used of humors (early 15c.). Meaning "ending in a sharp point" is from 1560s; sense of "sharp or penetrating in intellect" is from 1580s. Of feelings, pains, etc., "intense," 1727. As a noun, early 15c. of fevers; c. 1600 as "acute accent." Related: Acutely; acuteness.
