understanding; cuteness, sabe [U.S.], savvy [U.S.]; intellect &c 450;
nous [Fr.], parts, sagacity, mother wit, wit, esprit, gumption, quick
parts, grasp of intellect; acuteness &c adj.; acumen, subtlety,
penetration, perspicacy†, perspicacity; discernment, due sense of, good
judgment; discrimination &c 465; cunning &c 702; refinement &c (taste)
850.
head, brains, headpiece, upper story, long head; eagle eye, eagle-
glance; eye of a lynx, eye of a hawk.
wisdom, sapience, sense; good sense, common sense, horse sense
[U.S.], plain sense; rationality, reason; reasonableness &c adj.;
judgment; solidity, depth, profundity, caliber; enlarged views; reach
of thought, compass of thought; enlargement of mind.
genius, inspiration, geist [G.], fire of genius, heaven-born
genius, soul; talent &c (aptitude) 698.
[Wisdom in action] prudence &c 864; vigilance &c 459; tact &c 698;
foresight &c 510; sobriety, self-possession, aplomb, ballast.
a bright thought, not a bad idea.
Solomon-like wisdom.
V. be intelligent &c adj.; have all one's wits about one; understand &c
(intelligible) 518; catch an idea, take in an idea; take a joke, take a
hint.
see through, see at a glance, see with half an eye, see far into,
see through a millstone; penetrate; discern &c (descry) 441; foresee &c
510.
discriminate &c 465; know what's what &c 698; listen to reason.
Adj. intelligent [Applied to persons], quick of apprehension, keen,
acute, alive, brainy, awake, bright, quick, sharp; quick witted, keen
witted, clear witted, sharp-eyed, sharp sighted, sharp witted; wide-
awake; canny, shrewd, astute; clear-headed; farsighted &c 510;
discerning, perspicacious, penetrating, piercing; argute†; quick-witted,
nimble-witted, needle-witted; sharp as a needle, sharp as a tack; alive
to &c (cognizant) 490; clever &c (apt) 698; arch &c (cunning) 702; pas
si bete [Fr.]; acute &c 682.
wise, sage, sapient, sagacious, reasonable, rational, sound, in
one's right mind, sensible, abnormis sapiens [Lat.], judicious, strong-
minded.
unprejudiced, unbiased, unbigoted†, unprepossessed†; undazzled†,
unperplexed†; unwarped judgment†, impartial, equitable, fair.
cool; cool-headed, long-headed, hardheaded, strong-headed; long-
sighted, calculating, thoughtful, reflecting; solid, deep, profound.
oracular; heaven-directed, heaven-born.
prudent &c (cautious) 864; sober, stand, solid; considerate,
politic, wise in one's generation; watchful &c 459; provident &c
(prepared) 673; in advance of one' age; wise as a serpent, wise as
Solomon, wise as Solon.
[Applied to actions] wise, sensible, reasonable, judicious; well-
thought-out, well-planned, well-judged, well-advised; prudent, politic;
expedient &c 646.
Phr. aut regem aut fatuum nasci oportet [Lat.]; but with the morning
cool reflection came [Scott]; flosculi sententiarum [Lat.]; les
affaires font les hommes [Fr.]; mas vale saber que haber [Sp.]; mas
vale ser necio que profiadol nemo solus sapit [Lat.] [Plautus]; nosce
te [Lat.]; gnothi seauton [Gr.]; nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura
dementiae fuit [Lat.] [Seneca from Aristotle]; sapere aude [Lat.]
[Horace]; victrix fortunae sapientia [Lat.] [Juvenal].