savant

See also: Savant

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French savant, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin sapere. Doublet of sapient.

Noun

savant (plural savants)

1. A person of learning, especially one who is versed in literature or science.
2. A person who is considered eminent because of their achievements.
3. A person with significant mental disabilities who is very gifted in one area of activity, such as playing the piano or mental arithmetic.

   Synonym: idiot savant

Derived terms

Derived terms

• idiot savant

• savant syndrom
• savantism

Translations

a person of learning

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 学者 (zh) (xuézhě)

• Finnish: oppinut (fi)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• German: Gelehrter (de) m, Gelehrte (de) f
• Italian: saggio (it) m
• Romanian: savant (ro) m, învățat (ro) m, erudit (ro) m

a person eminent for their achievements

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• Turkish: ^{(please verify)} âlim (tr), ^{(please verify)} bilgin (tr)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

Synonyms

• erudite
• expert
• genius

Related terms

• homo sapiens
• insipid
• insipience
• insipient
• sapid
• sapience
• sapiens
• sapient
• savvy

 

• savant syndrome on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “savant”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Anagrams

• avants, sat nav, sat-nav, satnav

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French

Etymology

Old present participle of the verb savoir (modern: sachant).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sa.vɑ̃/

• audio:

  (file)

Adjective

savant (feminine savante, masculine plural savants, feminine plural savantes)

1. scholarly, scientific
2. perfect

   savant mélange

   perfect blend

Synonyms

• érudit, though the two are often juxtaposed (savants being portrayed as wise, the erudite as book-smart)

Derived terms

• nom savant

Related terms

• savamment
• savoir

Noun

savant m (plural savants, feminine savante)

1. scholar, scientist.

Verb

savant

1. (obsolete) present participle of savoir

Further reading

• “savant”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Anagrams

• avants, vantas