perspicuity
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Alternative forms [edit]
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Etymology [edit]
From the Classical Latin perspicuitās (“transparency”, “lucidity”, “self-evidency”, (in post-Classical Latin): “penetration”, “insight”), from perspicuus (“clear”, “evident”); compare perspicacity and the French perspicuité.
Pronunciation [edit]
- (RP) enPR: pər'spĭkyo͞oʹĭti, IPA: /ˌpəːspɪˈkjuːɪti/, X-SAMPA: /%p@:spI"kju:Iti/
- (US) enPR: pər'spəkyo͞oʹədi, IPA: /ˌpɚspəˈkjuədi/, X-SAMPA: /%p@`sp@"kju@di/
Noun [edit]
perspicuity (countable and uncountable; plural perspicuities)
- Clarity, lucidity, especially in expression; the state or characteristic of being perspicuous.
- 1905, George Bernard Shaw, The Irrational Knot, ch. 18,
- Whether through the first officer's want of perspicuity or my own stupidity, I was not a bit the wiser for the explanation.
- 1905, George Bernard Shaw, The Irrational Knot, ch. 18,
- Perspicacity; insight.
- 1965, "The Stupid Spy," Time, 19 Mar,
- Thompson, a high school dropout, said with rare perspicuity that he doubted the FBI would hire him.
- 1965, "The Stupid Spy," Time, 19 Mar,
- (rare) Transparency; translucence.
- 1900, Edith Wharton, The Touchstone, ch. 11,
- It must have been on some such day of harsh sunlight, the incisive February brightness that gives perspicuity without warmth.
- 1900, Edith Wharton, The Touchstone, ch. 11,
Synonyms [edit]
Related terms [edit]
References [edit]
- “perspicuity” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [2nd Ed.; 1989]
- “perspicuity, n.” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [draft revision; Mar. 2010]
- “perspicuity” in An American Dictionary of the English Language, by Noah Webster, 1828.
- perspicuity in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- “perspicuity” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.
- "perspicuity" in Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2007 Microsoft Corporation.
- Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary, 1987-1996.
