Smartnesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of being intelligent and quick-witted
2. The state of exhibiting cleverness and astuteness in various situations
3. An attribute reflecting sharp perception and insightful reasoning in thought and action

Etymology: "Smartnesses" is the plural of "smartness," which is "smart" plus the suffix "-ness," used to turn an adjective into a noun for a quality. The base word "smart" has an older sense that is still visible in the noun: in Middle English, "smart" meant sharp physical pain, the sting of a wound or a blow. The earlier form of "smartness" meant pain or hurt rather than cleverness, and it is cognate with Middle Dutch "smartenisse," which carried meanings of pain, injury, insult, and scorn. The sense of quick-wittedness came later, as "smart" moved from describing a stinging blow to describing a sharp, quick mind. The plural form, "smartnesses," simply refers to several instances or kinds of that quality.

Synonyms: cleverness, intelligence, wit, sagacity

Antonyms: foolishness, ignorance, naivety, simplicity