perspicuity
nounUK /ˌpəːspɪˈkjuːɪti/ · US /ˌpɚspəˈkjuəti/
Etymology Borrowed from Late Latin perspicuitās (“evidentness”, “self-evidency”, literally “transparency”, “clarity”, “lucidity”), from Latin perspicuus (“clear”, “transparent”; “evident”); compare perspicacity and the French perspicuité. By surface analysis, perspicuous + -ity.
1
Clarity, lucidity, especially in expression; the state or characteristic of being perspicuous.
- […]whether through the first officer's want of perspicuity or my own stupidity, I was not a bit the wiser for the explanation.1880, [George] Bernard Shaw, chapter XVIII, in The Irrational Knot … Being the Second Novel of His Nonage, London: Archibald Constable & Co., published 1905, →OCLC, page 354:
2
Perspicacity; insight.
- “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.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 51:
- Thompson, a high school dropout, said with rare perspicuity that he doubted the FBI would hire him.1965 March 19, “The Stupid Spy”, in Time:
3
Rare Transparency; translucence.
- It must have been on some such day of harsh sunlight, the incisive February brightness that gives perspicuity without warmth.1900, Edith Wharton, chapter 11, in The Touchstone:
- Synonyms
- perspicuousness
- Derived terms
- imperspicuity
- Related terms
- perspicacious, perspicaciously, perspective