astute

[email protected] 4 Oct 2007 09:56:04 -0000
Newsgroups gmane.culture.language.word-of-the-day
Message-ID <[email protected]>
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The Word of the Day for October 4 is:=20

astute   \uh-STOOT\   adjective
         *1 : having or showing shrewdness and perspicacity=20
     2 : crafty, wily=20
=20

Example sentence:
     The candidate made a number of astute observations about both forei=
gn and domestic policy during the debate.

Did you know?
          "Astute" is similar in meaning to "shrewd" and "sagacious," bu=
t there are subtle differences in connotation among them. All three sugg=
est sharp thinking and sound judgment, but "shrewd" stresses practical, =
hardheaded cleverness and judgment ("a shrewd judge of character"), wher=
eas "sagacious" implies wisdom and foresight combined with good judgment=
 ("sagacious investors"). "Astute," which derives from the Latin noun "a=
stus," meaning "craft," suggests cleverness, mental sharpness, and diplo=
matic skill ("an astute player of party politics").=20





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