astute
/əˈstjuːt/
adjective
Origin
Latin
astutus — crafty, cunning, shrewd
Overview
Meaning Now
- Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage.
- Mentally sharp or clever.
Literal older meaning
physically restrained or bound
Language path
Latin → Middle English → English
Earliest form
astute
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term enters English during the Renaissance, reflecting an intellectual interest in the Latin roots of logic and rhetoric. Initially, it carried a connotation of deceptive craftiness, but it gradually acquired the more positive sense of intellectual sharpness and high perception.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
astutia
“craftiness, cunning”
Derived from the noun 'astus' (cunning, craft).
- Latin
astutus
“shrewd, ingenious”
The past participle form acting as an adjective.
- 16th century English
astute
“cunning, crafty”
Direct loan from Latin.
- Modern English
astute
“mentally sharp or perceptive”
Positive shift from negative 'crafty' to a more neutral 'perceptive'.
Connections
Word parts
astutus
root
cunning
Related across languages
French
astucieux
cunning, crafty
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Related to astute
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.