Acute
How to say it: Acute (ah-KEWT)
What it means: Coming on suddenly or severely.
Where it comes from: From Latin, acūtus, a sharpened point; a violent onset.
Where you might see or hear it: Many health conditions can be described as being acute, meaning that they last a short time (compared to a chronic condition, which lasts a long time).
When you might want to use it: One example of an acute illness that many people are familiar with is appendicitis. It tends to come on suddenly and severely, and typically only lasts a short while (and is solved by having your appendix removed).
