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

“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

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

The relative simplicity and perspicuity of geometrical and physical relations supply here the conditions of natural and easy progress.

From Project Gutenberg

Notwithstanding the perspicuity and apparent genuineness of this message, it was some time before I could make up my mind to follow the directions it gave me.

From Project Gutenberg