Both Uses of
sheer
in
All Quiet on the Western Front
- Himmelstoss maintained that it was sheer laziness and invented a method worthy of himself for curing Tjaden.
p. 46.0sheer = pure
- We can do nothing else, it is a sheer necessity.
p. 139.1 *sheer = complete
Definitions:
-
(1)
(sheer as in: a sheer blouse) typically of fabric: very thin and delicate -- often transparent
-
(2)
(sheer as in: sheer fun) complete or pure -- without restriction, qualification, or other elements (used for emphasis)
-
(3)
(sheer as in: a sheer cliff) so steep it is almost vertical
-
(4)
(sheer as in: sheer to the left) change direction; or to cause such a change of direction -- usually abruptly
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(5)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Sheer can also be an alternative spelling for shear (to cut).