Clever Definition
klĕvər
cleverest, cleverer
adjective
cleverest, cleverer
Skillful in doing something; adroit; dexterous.
Webster's New World
Mentally quick and original; bright.
A clever student.
American Heritage
Quick in thinking or learning; intelligent, ingenious, quick-witted, witty, facile, etc.
Webster's New World
Skilled at accomplishing things, especially with the hands.
A clever carpenter.
American Heritage
Showing ingenuity or quick, sometimes superficial, intelligence.
A clever book.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Other Word Forms of Clever
Adjective
Base Form:
clever
Comparative:
clevererSuperlative:
cleverestOrigin of Clever
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From East Anglian dialectal English cliver (“expert at seizing”), from Middle English cliver (“tenacious”), perhaps from Old English *clifer, clibbor (“clinging”), or perhaps from East Frisian (compare Saterland Frisian kluftich), or dialectal Norwegian klover (“ready, skillful”); possibly influenced by Old English clifer (“claw, hand”). Related to cleave.
From Wiktionary
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Middle English cliver East Frisian klifer, klüfer gleubh- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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