cleverness

Variant of clever

clever definition

clever (klev′ər)

adjective

  1. skillful in doing something; adroit; dexterous
  2. quick in thinking or learning; intelligent, ingenious, quick-witted, witty, facile, etc.
  3. showing ingenuity or quick, sometimes superficial, intelligence a clever book
  4. Dialectal
    1. amiable; good-natured
    2. handsome, convenient, nice, etc.

Etymology: ME cliver, prob. < EFris klüfer or Norw dial klöver, ready, skillful; ? infl. by OE clifer, claw, hand, in the sense, “adroit with the hand”: for the latter sense development, see adroit, dexterous

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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