perspicuity

[ pur-spi-kyoo-i-tee ]

noun

1. clearness or lucidity, as of a statement.

   Synonyms: plainness, intelligibility, clarity

2. the quality of being perspicuous.

   Synonyms: transparency

   Antonyms: dimness, opacity

perspicuity

/ ˌpɜːspɪˈkjuːɪtɪ /

noun

1. the quality of being perspicuous
2. acute perception; perspicacity

Word History and Origins

Origin of perspicuity¹

From the Latin word perspicuitās, dating back to 1470–80. See perspicuous, -ity

Synonym Study

Perspicuity, perspicacity are both derived from a Latin word meaning “to see through.” Perspicacity refers to the power of seeing clearly, to clearness of insight or judgment: a person of acute perspicacity; the perspicacity of his judgment. Perspicuity refers to something that can be seen through, i.e., to lucidity, clearness of style or exposition, freedom from obscurity: the perspicuity of her argument.

Example Sentences

Joe recited this couplet with such manifest pride and careful perspicuity, that I asked him if he had made it himself.

From Literature

“Dear me, you are being truthful today,” he said, with remarkable perspicuity.

From Literature

In a famous passage from Federalist 37, Madison doubted the capacity of language to produce the “perspicuity” — the linguistic precision — needed for such interpretation.

From Washington Post

In simple terms, Forward allows a wealthy person to become the subject of a professionally packaged video interview — conducted with all the panache and most of the perspicuity you would expect from Mr. Rose — for about $50,000 to $150,000, depending on the package.

From New York Times

As a teenager Ben received a letter from his father saying his writing was inferior: “in elegance of expression, in method and in perspicuity, of which he convinced me by several instances,” as Franklin recalled.

From Time