Sharper

Sharper
Sharp Sharp, a. [Compar. {Sharper}; superl. {Sharpest}.] [OE. sharp, scharp, scarp, AS. scearp; akin to OS. skarp, LG. scharp, D. scherp, G. scharf, Dan. & Sw. skarp, Icel. skarpr. Cf. {Escarp}, {Scrape}, {Scorpion}.] 1. Having a very thin edge or fine point; of a nature to cut or pierce easily; not blunt or dull; keen. [1913 Webster]

He dies upon my scimeter's sharp point. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. Terminating in a point or edge; not obtuse or rounded; somewhat pointed or edged; peaked or ridged; as, a sharp hill; sharp features. [1913 Webster]

3. Affecting the sense as if pointed or cutting, keen, penetrating, acute: to the taste or smell, pungent, acid, sour, as ammonia has a sharp taste and odor; to the hearing, piercing, shrill, as a sharp sound or voice; to the eye, instantaneously brilliant, dazzling, as a sharp flash. [1913 Webster]

4. (Mus.) (a) High in pitch; acute; as, a sharp note or tone. (b) Raised a semitone in pitch; as, C sharp (C[sharp]), which is a half step, or semitone, higher than C. (c) So high as to be out of tune, or above true pitch; as, the tone is sharp; that instrument is sharp. Opposed in all these senses to {flat}. [1913 Webster]

5. Very trying to the feelings; piercing; keen; severe; painful; distressing; as, sharp pain, weather; a sharp and frosty air. [1913 Webster]

Sharp misery had worn him to the bones. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

The morning sharp and clear. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]

In sharpest perils faithful proved. --Keble. [1913 Webster]

6. Cutting in language or import; biting; sarcastic; cruel; harsh; rigorous; severe; as, a sharp rebuke. ``That sharp look.'' --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

To that place the sharp Athenian law Can not pursue us. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Be thy words severe, Sharp as merits but the sword forbear. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

7. Of keen perception; quick to discern or distinguish; having nice discrimination; acute; penetrating; sagacious; clever; as, a sharp eye; sharp sight, hearing, or judgment. [1913 Webster]

Nothing makes men sharper . . . than want. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

Many other things belong to the material world, wherein the sharpest philosophers have never ye? arrived at clear and distinct ideas. --L. Watts. [1913 Webster]

8. Eager in pursuit; keen in quest; impatient for gratification; keen; as, a sharp appetite. [1913 Webster]

9. Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous. ``In sharp contest of battle.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

A sharp assault already is begun. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

10. Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interest; close and exact in dealing; shrewd; as, a sharp dealer; a sharp customer. [1913 Webster]

The necessity of being so sharp and exacting. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

11. Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty; as, sharp sand. --Moxon. [1913 Webster]

12. Steep; precipitous; abrupt; as, a sharp ascent or descent; a sharp turn or curve. [1913 Webster]

13. (Phonetics) Uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone, without voice, as certain consonants, such as p, k, t, f; surd; nonvocal; aspirated. [1913 Webster]

Note: Sharp is often used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, sharp-cornered, sharp-edged, sharp-pointed, sharp-tasted, sharp-visaged, etc. [1913 Webster]

{Sharp practice}, the getting of an advantage, or the attempt to do so, by a tricky expedient.

{To brace sharp}, or {To sharp up} (Naut.), to turn the yards to the most oblique position possible, that the ship may lie well up to the wind. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Keen; acute; piercing; penetrating; quick; sagacious; discerning; shrewd; witty; ingenious; sour; acid; tart; pungent; acrid; severe; poignant; biting; acrimonious; sarcastic; cutting; bitter; painful; afflictive; violent; harsh; fierce; ardent; fiery. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Sharper — Sharp er, n. A person who bargains closely, especially, one who cheats in bargains; a swinder; also, a cheating gamester. [1913 Webster] Sharpers, as pikes, prey upon their own kind. L Estrange. [1913 Webster] Syn: Swindler; cheat; deceiver;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sharper — index bettor Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • sharper — [shär′pər] n. a person, esp. a gambler, who is dishonest in dealing with others; cheat; swindler …   English World dictionary

  • Sharper — A sharper is an older term, common since the seventeenth century, for thieves who use trickery to part an owner with his or her money possessions. Sharpers vary from what we now call con men by virtue of the simplicity of their cons, which often… …   Wikipedia

  • Sharper — Ths unusual name is of Anglo Saxon origin and is a variant of the nickname surname Sharp or Sharpe . The name was applied to someone considered to be sharp, quick or smart , and derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century word scearp , sharp,… …   Surnames reference

  • sharper — sharp·er || ʃɑrpÉ™r /ʃɑːpÉ™ n. swindler, cheater; professional gambler ʃɑrp /ʃɑːp n. something sharp; sewing needle; sharper; swindler, cheater; professional gambler; musical tone half a step higher than a given note; mark indicating… …   English contemporary dictionary

  • sharper — noun Date: 1681 cheat, swindler; especially a cheating gambler …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sharper — /shahr peuhr/, n. 1. a shrewd swindler. 2. a professional gambler. Also, sharpie. [1560 70; SHARP + ER1] * * * …   Universalium

  • sharper — noun a swindler; a cheat; a professional gambler who makes his living by cheating. Syn: chiseler, spiv …   Wiktionary

  • sharper — Synonyms and related words: adventurer, betting ring, bettor, boneshaker, bunco artist, bunco steerer, cardshark, cardsharp, cardsharper, carpetbagger, cheat, compulsive gambler, con artist, con man, confidence man, crap shooter, crimp, defrauder …   Moby Thesaurus

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