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- DictionaryClev·er/ˈklevər/
adjective
- 1. quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent: "a clever and studious young woman" Similar intelligentbrightsmartbrillianttalentedgiftedprecociouscapableablecompetentaptproficienteducatedlearnederuditeacademicbookishknowledgeablewisesagaciousinformal:brainygeniusOpposite stupid
- ▪ skilled at doing or achieving something; talented: "he was clever at getting what he wanted" Similar skillfuldexterousadroitdeftnimblenimble-fingeredhandyadeptskilledtalented
- ▪ showing intelligence or skill; ingenious: "a simple but clever idea for helping people learn computing" Similar shrewdastutesharpacutequicksharp-wittedquick-wittedingeniousresourcefulcannycunningcraftyartfulwilyslickneatinformal:foxysavvyflypawkyas sharp as a tackcutewhip-smartOpposite ill-advisedfoolish
- ▪ sensible; well-advised: "it wasn't too clever, leaving Dolly alone"
Word Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘quick to catch hold’, only recorded in this period): perhaps of Dutch or Low German origin, and related to cleave2. In the late 16th century the term came to mean (probably through dialect use) ‘manually skillful’; the sense ‘possessing mental agility’ dates from the early 18th century.
Scrabble Points: 11
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