I. ˈshir verb
Etymology: perhaps alteration of shear (I)
Date: 1539
intransitive verb
: to deviate from a course : swerve
transitive verb
: to cause to sheer
II. noun
Date: 1670
1. : a turn, deviation, or change in a course (as of a ship)
2. : the position of a ship riding to a single anchor and heading toward it
III. adjective
Etymology: Middle English schere freed from guilt, probably alteration of skere, from Old Norse skærr pure; akin to Old English scīnan to shine
Date: circa 1568
1. obsolete : bright , shining
2. : of very thin or transparent texture : diaphanous
3.
a. : unqualified , utter
sheer folly
sheer ignorance
b. : being free from an adulterant : pure , unmixed
c. : viewed or acting in dissociation from all else
in terms of sheer numbers
4. : marked by great and continuous steepness
Synonyms: see steep
• sheer·ly adverb
• sheer·ness noun
IV. adverb
Date: 1599
1. : in a complete manner : altogether
2. : straight up or down without a break : perpendicularly
V. noun
Date: circa 1920
: a sheer fabric ; also : an article of such a fabric
VI. noun
Etymology: perhaps alteration of shear (II)
Date: 1691
: the fore-and-aft curvature from bow to stern of a ship's deck as shown in side elevation