Sheer
/ʃɪr/noun
Used to describe something very steep, very thin, or completely and without limit.
Did you know?The word’s older senses include “bright,” “pure,” and “utter,” showing how English turned an idea of clarity into both physical steepness and total intensity.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sker-
“to cut, to separate”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*skairaz
“clear, bright; pure”
Old English
English
scīr
“bright, clear, pure; later also shining and beautiful”
Middle English
English
sheer
“pure, clean, transparent; later also steep, abrupt”
Modern English
English
sheer
“very steep, very thin, or complete and unmitigated”