Term
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Definition
–noun
keen insight; shrewdness: remarkable acumen in business matters. |
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Term
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Definition
–adjective
1.
sharp or severe in effect; intense: acute sorrow; an acute pain.
2.
extremely great or serious; crucial; critical: an acute shortage of oil.
3.
(of disease) brief and severe (opposed to chronic).
4.
sharp or penetrating in intellect, insight, or perception: an acute observer.
5.
extremely sensitive even to slight details or impressions: acute eyesight.
6.
sharp at the end; ending in a point.
7.
Geometry.
a.
(of an angle) less than 90°.
b.
(of a triangle) containing only acute angles.
8.
consisting of, indicated by, or bearing the mark ´, placed over vowel symbols in some languages to show that the vowels or the syllables they are in are pronounced in a certain way, as in French that the quality of an e so marked is close; in Hungarian that the vowel is long; in Spanish that the marked syllable bears the word accent; in Ibo that it is pronounced with high tones; or in classical Greek, where the mark originated, that the syllable bears the word accent and is pronounced, according to the ancient grammarians, with raised pitch (opposed to grave): the acute accent; an acute e. |
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Term
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Definition
–adjective
1.
of keen penetration or discernment; sagacious: an astute analysis.
2.
clever; cunning; ingenious; shrewd: an astute merchandising program; an astute manipulation of facts. |
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Term
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Definition
–verb (used with object),-dled, -dling.
1.
to confuse, as with glib statements or arguments: politicians befuddling the public with campaign promises.
2.
to make stupidly drunk. |
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Term
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Definition
–noun
1.
the act of coruscating.
2.
a sudden gleam or flash of light.
3.
a striking display of brilliance or wit. |
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Term
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Definition
–verb (used with object)
1.
to perceive by the sight or some other sense or by the intellect; see, recognize, or apprehend: They discerned a sail on the horizon.
2.
to distinguish mentally; recognize as distinct or different; discriminate: He is incapable of discerning right from wrong.
–verb (used without object)
3.
to distinguish or discriminate. |
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Term
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Definition
–noun
a dull, stupid person; blockhead. |
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Term
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Definition
–adjective
characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly: an erudite professor; an erudite commentary. |
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Term
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Definition
–adjective
1.
foolish or inane, esp. in an unconscious, complacent manner; silly.
2.
unreal; illusory. |
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Term
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Definition
–noun,plural-lies for 2–6.
1.
the state or quality of being foolish; lack of understanding or sense.
2.
a foolish action, practice, idea, etc.; absurdity: the folly of performing without a rehearsal.
3.
a costly and foolish undertaking; unwise investment or expenditure.
4.
Architecture. a whimsical or extravagant structure built to serve as a conversation piece, lend interest to a view, commemorate a person or event, etc.: found esp. in England in the 18th century.
5.
follies, a theatrical revue.
6.
Obsolete. wickedness; wantonness. |
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Term
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Definition
–adjective
1.
lacking sense, significance, or ideas; silly: inane questions.
2.
empty; void.
–noun
3.
something that is empty or void, esp. the void of infinite space. |
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Term
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Definition
–adjective
1.
penetrating; cutting; biting; trenchant: an incisive tone of voice.
2.
remarkably clear and direct; sharp; keen; acute: an incisive method of summarizing the issue.
3.
adapted for cutting or piercing.
4.
of or pertaining to the incisors: the incisive teeth. |
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Term
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Definition
–adjective
1.
characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction: an ingenious machine.
2.
cleverly inventive or resourceful: an ingenious press agent.
3.
Obsolete.
a.
intelligent; showing genius.
b.
ingenuous. |
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Term
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Definition
–adjective
1.
using or showing judgment as to action or practical expediency; discreet, prudent, or politic: judicious use of one's money.
2.
having, exercising, or characterized by good or discriminating judgment; wise, sensible, or well-advised: a judicious selection of documents. |
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Term
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Definition
–noun
1.
lack of knowledge; ignorance.
2.
agnosticism. |
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Term
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Definition
–adjective
1.
not quick or alert in perception, feeling, or intellect; not sensitive or observant; dull.
2.
not sharp, acute, or pointed; blunt in form.
3.
(of a leaf, petal, etc.) rounded at the extremity.
4.
indistinctly felt or perceived, as pain or sound. |
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Term
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Definition
–adjective
1.
having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things. |
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Term
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Definition
–noun
1.
a person who makes an excessive or inappropriate display of learning.
2.
a person who overemphasizes rules or minor details.
3.
a person who adheres rigidly to book knowledge without regard to common sense.
4.
Obsolete. a schoolmaster. |
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Term
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Definition
–adjective
1.
having keen mental perception and understanding; discerning: to exhibit perspicacious judgment.
2.
Archaic. having keen vision. |
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Term
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Definition
–noun
a person of great learning in several fields of study; polyhistor. |
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Term
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Definition
–noun,plural-gies.
1.
a person, esp. a child or young person, having extraordinary talent or ability: a musical prodigy.
2.
a marvelous example (usually fol. by of).
3.
something wonderful or marvelous; a wonder.
4.
something abnormal or monstrous.
5.
Archaic. something extraordinary regarded as of prophetic significance. |
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Term
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Definition
–noun
1.
a learned person, expert, or authority.
2.
a person who makes comments or judgments, esp. in an authoritative manner; critic or commentator.
3.
pandit. |
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Term
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Definition
–adjective
able to deal skillfully and promptly with new situations, difficulties, etc. |
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Term
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Definition
–adjective
1.
having or showing acute mental discernment and keen practical sense; shrewd: a sagacious lawyer.
2.
Obsolete. keen of scent. |
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Term
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Definition
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
1.
to know; understand.
–noun
2.
Also, sav·vi·ness. practical understanding; shrewdness or intelligence; common sense: a candidate who seemed to have no political savvy.
–adjective
3.
shrewdly informed; experienced and well-informed; canny. |
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Term
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Definition
–adjective
1.
without contents; empty: the vacuous air.
2.
lacking in ideas or intelligence: a vacuous mind.
3.
expressing or characterized by a lack of ideas or intelligence; inane; stupid: a vacuous book.
4.
purposeless; idle: a vacuous way of life. |
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