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Webster 1913 Edition
Perspicuity
Perˊspi-cu′i-ty
(pẽrˊspĭ-kū′ĭ-ty̆)
, Noun.
[L.
perspicuitas
: cf. F. perspicuité
.] 1.
The quality or state of being transparent or translucent.
[Obs.]
Sir T. Browne.
2.
The quality of being perspicuous to the understanding; clearness of expression or thought.
3.
Sagacity; perspicacity.
Syn. – Clearness; perspicuousness; plainness; distinctness; lucidity; transparency. See
Clearness
. Webster 1828 Edition
Perspicuity
PERSPICU'ITY
,Noun.
1.
Transparency; clearness; that quality of a substance which renders objects visible through it. [Little used.]2.
Clearness to mental vision; easiness to be understood; freedom from obscurity or ambiguity; that quality of writing or language which readily presents to the mind of another the precise ideas of the author. Perspicuity is the first excellence of writing or speaking.Definition 2024
perspicuity
perspicuity
English
Alternative forms
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Noun
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.
- 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 4, in The Celebrity:
- “Well,” I answered, at first with uncertainty, then with inspiration, “he would do splendidly to lead your cotillon, if you think of having one.” ¶ “So you do not dance, Mr. Crocker?” ¶ I was somewhat set back by her perspicuity.
- 1965, "The Stupid Spy," Time, 19 Mar,
- Thompson, a high school dropout, said with rare perspicuity that he doubted the FBI would hire him.
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- (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
Related terms
References
- “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.