Is there any origin with the word "cute"?

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Is there any origin with the word "cute"?

2007-10-31 06:14:13 · 3 answers · asked by shanekeavy 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages

3 answers

Cute used to refer to someone who was a bit sharp, not to be trusted, a "jack the lad" but seems to have shifted from a pejorative meaning to something more pleasant.

2007-10-31 07:48:24 · answer #1 · answered by JJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋

Etymology

Cute : short for acute

Acute : Middle English, from Latin 'acutus', past participle of 'acuere' to sharpen, from 'acus' needle; akin to Latin 'acer' sharp.
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2007-10-31 13:22:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋

It comes from the Portuguese.
Fathers and mothers from that language used to say to their children:
Que cute-cute. (kuti-kuti)
Then the english borrow it from the portuguese.

2007-10-31 13:35:08 · answer #3 · answered by Vitor 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋