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per·spi·ca·cious

(pûr′spĭ-kāshəs)

adj.

Having or showing penetrating mental discernment; clear-sighted. See Synonyms at shrewd.

[From Latin perspicāx, perspicāc-, from perspicere, to look through; see PERSPECTIVE.]

per′spi·cacious·ly adv.

per′spi·cacious·ness n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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