Astute is an adjective meaning having or showing shrewdness and mental sharpness, or being crafty and wily. The term derives from the Latin word 'astus', meaning 'craft' or 'cunning'.
Astuto es un adjetivo que significa tener o mostrar perspicacia y agudeza mental, o ser astuto y artero. El término deriva de la palabra latina "astus", que significa "artimaña" o "astucia".
| Word | astute |
|---|---|
| Date | October 4, 2007 |
| Type | adjective |
| Syllables | uh-STOOT |
| Etymology | "Astute" is similar in meaning to "shrewd" and "sagacious," but there are subtle differences in connotation among them. All three suggest sharp thinking and sound judgment, but "shrewd" stresses practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment ("a shrewd judge of character"), whereas "sagacious" implies wisdom and foresight combined with good judgment ("sagacious investors"). "Astute," which derives from the Latin noun "astus," meaning "craft," suggests cleverness, mental sharpness, and diplomatic skill ("an astute player of party politics"). *Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence. |
| Examples | The candidate made a number of astute observations about both foreign and domestic policy during the debate. |
| Definition | 1 : having or showing shrewdness and perspicacity 2 : crafty, wily |
Tags: wordoftheday::adjective
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