perspicacity

Definition

Acute discernment or understanding; insight.

Etymology

From From perspicac(ious) + -ity, from Middle French perspicacité, from Latin perspicācitās (“sharpsightedness, discrimination”), from perspicio, from per- + specio, "see through (something)".

Example Sentences

• ""I understand," I said. "The fact is that you have the money." His face brightened. He seemed pleased at my perspicacity."
• "The citizens chose a university. They reasoned, with considerable perspicacity, that taxes come and go in response to political considerations, but a university, once established, is a permanent benefit to a city and a nation."
• "McEwan certainly has a flair for unusual points of view. Adam, like the baby-in-waiting who narrates Nutshell, is an extraordinarily smart, well-informed, and unorthodox character who catches his supposed caretakers off-guard with his perspicacity."

Related Words