Definition of acumen

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< aculeate

acuminate >

ac·u·men    (ky-mn, -ky-) KEY 

NOUN:

Quickness, accuracy, and keenness of judgment or insight.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Latin acmen, from acuere, to sharpen, from acus, needle; see ak- in Indo-European roots
Usage Note:
The pronunciation (-kymn), with stress on the second syllable, is an older, traditional pronunciation reflecting the word's Latin origin. In recent years it has been supplanted as the most common pronunciation of the word by an Anglicized variant with stress on the first syllable, (ky-mn). In a recent survey, 68 percent of the Usage Panel chose this as their pronunciation, while 29 percent preferred the pronunciation with stress on the second syllable. The remaining 3 percent of the Panelists said they use both pronunciations.