sapience

[ sey-pee-uhns ]

noun

1. great wisdom or sound judgment:

   He did much to inculcate the image of a good prince, demonstrating his sapience at Oxford and doing justice with rigor and compassion.

2. the capacity to be self-aware:

   Language existed long before there was writing, emerging most likely at the same time as sapience, abstract thought, and the genus Homo.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sapience¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Old French, from Latin sapientia “wisdom,” from sapient-, stem of sapiēns + -ia -ia ( def ); sapient ( def )

Example Sentences

"They come back when they learn to play ball above the ears," retorted Bean with crisp sapience.

From Project Gutenberg

Another is an emblematic representation of the Tower of Sapience, each stone formed of some mental qualification.

From Project Gutenberg

His demure sapience was of the most intense order and it arose out of great mental excitement.

From Project Gutenberg

Artemas Ward made people laugh the moment they beheld him, by his wooden composure and indescribable sapience of demeanour.

From Project Gutenberg

"She's tremendously admired by some people," said Lady Mollie, shaking her head with a quaint air of sapience.

From Project Gutenberg