Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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adj
Possessing discernment and wisdom; learned, wise.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: formal
Qualifier: dated except poetic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: astute, clairvoyant, deep, frood, grounded, judicious, oracular, perspicacious, politic, profound, prudent, quick-witted, reasonable, sagacious, sage, sapient, sensible, wise, witful
Antonyms: insapient, nonsapient
adj
Attempting to appear discerning or wise.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, derogatory, ironic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Followed by of: aware or knowledgeable of.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Of a lifeform or species: possessing intelligence or a high degree of self-awareness.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
Topics: literature, media, publishing, science-fiction
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: sentient, intelligent, self-aware, sapient
Antonyms: nonsapient
adj
Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Homo sapiens (modern human beings).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: anthropology, human-sciences, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Having a (good) flavour or taste; sapid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A wise person; a sage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: archaic except humorous
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: wise man, wise woman
noun
An intelligent, self-aware being.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
Topics: literature, media, publishing, science-fiction
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: intelligence, sentient, sapient, sophont
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A human being of the species Homo sapiens.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: anthropology, human-sciences, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
acutely insightful and wise
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: perspicacious, sagacious
Antonyms: none provided
History
The adjective is derived from Late Middle English sapient (“learned, wise”), from Old French sapient, or from its etymon Latin sapient-, a stem of sapiēns (“(adjective) discerning, judicious, wise; (noun) wise man, sage”), the present active participle of sapiō (“to have a flavour of, taste like; (figurative) to have good taste; to have discernment or sense; to be prudent, sensible, or wise”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *seh1p-, *sep- (“to taste; to try out”). Doublet of savant. The noun is derived from the adjective, and also influenced by Latin sapiēns (noun) (see above).
Across languages
17 source translations are retained for this English entry.
