adj. & adv.
adj. 1 no more or less than; mere, unqualified, absolute (sheer luck; sheer determination). 2 (of a cliff or ascent etc.) perpendicular; very steep. 3 (of a textile) very thin; diaphanous.
adv. 1 directly, outright. 2 perpendicularly. sheerly adv. sheerness n.
[ ME schere prob. f. dial. shire pure, clear f. OE scir f. Gmc ]