Added 9 October 2026
perspicacious
/ˌpɜː.spɪˈkeɪ.ʃəs/ adjective
In Latin: perspicax First recorded: 1548 Wiktionary
adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about perspicacious at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Acutely insightful and wise.
much too perspicacious to be taken in by such a spurious argument
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Mentally acute or penetratingly discerning.
too clear-eyed not to see what problems would follow
Origin
First attested 1548, from Late Latin perspicācitās (“discernment”), from Latin perspicax (“sharp-sighted”), from perspiciō (“look through”), from per- (“through”) + speciō (“look at”). See also perspective.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)