perspicacity

[ pur-spi-kas-i-tee ]

/ ˌpɜr spɪˈkæs ɪ ti /

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noun

keenness of mental perception and understanding; discernment; penetration.

Archaic. keen vision.

Nearby words

persorption, perspective, perspectivism, perspex, perspicacious, perspicacity, perspicuity, perspicuous, perspiration, perspiratory, perspire

Origin of perspicacity

1540–50; earlier perspicacite < Late Latin perspicācitās sharpness of sight, equivalent to perspicāci- (stem of perspicāx sharp-sighted; see perspicuous) + -tās -ty²

SYNONYMS FOR perspicacity

1 shrewdness, acuity, astuteness, insight, acumen. See perspicuity.

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ANTONYMS FOR perspicacity

1 obtuseness.

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Examples from the Web for perspicacity

But now hear what I have ascertained—I, who do not boast either of my scruples of conscience or of my perspicacity.
Wood Rangers|Mayne Reid
Perspicacity is the power to see clearly through that which is difficult or involved.
English Synonyms and Antonyms|James Champlin Fernald
La Cibot was dismayed by the man's perspicacity; now she knew why he had listened to her so intently.
Cousin Pons|Honore de Balzac
The bottom dropped out of the market for confidence in the integrity of Mr. Iff and conceit in the perspicacity of Mr. Staff.
The Bandbox|Louis Joseph Vance

Because there is a something in your eyes which indicates their perspicacity.
San-Cravate; or, The Messengers; Little Streams|Charles Paul de Kock