clever

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Adjective 1.2.1 Synonyms 1.2.2 Antonyms 1.2.3 Derived terms 1.2.4 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

• Rhymes: -ɛvə(r)

[edit] Adjective

clever (comparative cleverer or more clever, superlative cleverest or most clever)

1. mentally sharp or bright, witty; possessing quick or able intelligence
2. nimble with hands or body
   • Though there were many clever men in England during the latter half of the seventeenth century, there were only two great creative minds.-- Thomas Babington Macaulay.
   • Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever.--Charles Kingsley.
3. superficially skillful, resourceful
4. showing inventiveness or originality
5. (Australian Aboriginal) possessing magical abilities
   • 1904, Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, Vol. XXXVIII

     When a clever man is out hunting ... he ... talks to the footprints all the time for the purpose of injecting magic into the animal which made them.

   • 1947, Oceania, Vol. XVII

     The two women, who were ‘clever’, and possessed a certain amount of magical ‘power’, ...

   • 1991, John & Sue Erbacher, Aborigines of the Rainforest

     Fred is the clever fellow or tribal doctor who practises with the Kuku-Yalanji people. The tribal doctor’s work includes curing sickness, finding out the causes of death, predicting the future and making and stopping rain.

[edit] Synonyms

• adroit
• cunning
• ingenious
• talented
• See also Wikisaurus:intelligent

[edit] Antonyms

• dull
• ineffectual
• stupid

[edit] Derived terms

• cleverly
• cleverness

[edit] Translations