Sagesse

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The characteristic of possessing profound knowledge and discernment is often linked to thoughtful decision-making and insightfulness
2. This attribute embodies the essence of deep understanding combined with practical wisdom, underscoring the ability to make sound judgments
3. The quality of having deep insight and the ability to make prudent decisions

Etymology: "Sagesse" is a French noun, and English took it directly from French rather than building it from Latin pieces on its own. The French word is itself the descendant of the Latin "sapientia," meaning wisdom or good sense, which comes from "sapiens," wise, the same root that gives English "sapient." Along the way the Latin stem sapere, "to taste" or "to be discerning," carries a notable original sense: wisdom was pictured as a matter of having a refined palate for what is true and fitting. English borrowed the French form to name a quality that the plain native word "wisdom" already covered, so the loan gives the idea a slightly more cultivated, continental flavour. It appears in English as a term for prudent insight, the kind of judgement that knows when to act and when to hold back.

Synonyms: wisdom, insight, knowledge, sagacity, prudence

Antonyms: ignorance, foolishness, naivety, ineptitude, inexperience