perspicacious

American  

[pur-spi-key-shuhs] / ˌpɜr spɪˈkeɪ ʃəs /

adjective

1. having keen mental perception and understanding; discerning.

   to exhibit perspicacious judgment.

   Synonyms:

   penetrating, shrewd, acute, perceptive

   Antonyms:

   stupid, dull

2. Archaic. having keen vision.

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perspicacious British  

/ ˌpɜːspɪˈkeɪʃəs, ˌpɜːspɪˈkæsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. acutely perceptive or discerning

2. archaic having keen eyesight

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Other Word Forms

• perspicaciously
  adverb
• perspicaciousness
  noun
• perspicacity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of perspicacious

First recorded in 1610–20; perspicaci(ty) + -ous

Explanation

Perspicacious is an adjective that means "shrewd" and "wise." A perspicacious child can't be fooled when her parents try to keep a secret by talking in Pig Latin. The adjective perspicacious is a long word for a short definition: "keen" or "shrewd." This word is descended from the Latin word perspicere, which means "to look closely." In other words, if you look closely at something you are paying attention to it and know it well. A definition of perspicacious that is out of date but still relevant is "having keen eyesight" and people who can see clearly are also aware and attentive!

Example Sentences

Perspicacious, pėr-spi-kā′shus, adj. of clear or acute understanding: quick-sighted.—adv.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various