c. 1200, "exempt, free from guilt" (as in Sheer Thursday, the Thursday of Holy Week); later schiere "thin, sparse" (c. 1400), from Old English scir "bright, clear, gleaming; translucent; pure, unmixed," and influenced by Old Norse cognate sc?r "bright, clean, pure," both from Proto-Germanic *skeran- (cognates: Old Saxon skiri, Old Frisian skire, German schier, Gothic skeirs "clean, pure"), from PIE root *(s)ker- (1) "to cut" (see shear (v.)).
Sense of "absolute, utter" (sheer nonsense) developed 1580s, probably from the notion of "unmixed;" that of "very steep" (a sheer cliff) is first recorded 1800, probably from notion of "continued without halting." Meaning "diaphanous" is from 1560s. As an adverb from c. 1600.
sheer (v.)
1620s, "deviate from course" (of a ship), of obscure origin, perhaps from Dutch scheren "to move aside, withdraw, depart," originally "to separate" (see shear (v.)). Related: Sheered; shearing. As a noun from 1660s.
例文
1. Talent，hard work and sheer tenacity are all crucial to career success.
事業を成功させるには、才能、勤勉さ、粘り強い意志が重要です。
2.A young man plunged from a sheer rock face to his death.
男性青年が切り立った岩壁から崖から転落して死亡した。
3.Some shopers looked bewildered by the sheer variety of goods on offer.
そこに並んでいる様々な商品だけで、一部の買い物客は目を奪われてしまった。
4.The hills rise green and sheer above the broad river.
これらの小山は青々として険しく、この広い川の上にそびえ立っている。
5.By sheer fluke，one of the shipowner 's employees was in the city.