PERSPICUITY • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Perspicuity

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noun

Perspicuity n.

The quality or state of being transparent or translucent. (Obs.)

The quality of being perspicuous to the understanding; clearness of expression or thought.

Sagacity; perspicacity.

Synonyms: Clearness; perspicuousness; plainness; distinctness; lucidity; transparency. See Clearness.

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Etymology of 'Perspicuity'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Perspicuity" Quotes from Famous Books

... revolve round the sun by an analogous movement. The mind instantly grasped at an explanation of so palpable a character and which required for its development neither the exercise of patient thought nor the aid of mathematical skill. The talent and perspicuity with which the Cartesian system was expounded, and the show by which it was sustained, contributed powerfully to its adoption, while it derived a still higher sanction from the excellent character and the unaffected ...

— The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 12 • Editor-In-Chief Rossiter Johnson

... telling of tortures without count, of unfathomable melancholy, of morbid desires, endless compassion, passionate envy. An epileptic genius whose very exterior speaks of the stream of mildness that fills his heart, of the wave of almost insane perspicuity that gets into his head, finally the ambition, the greatness of endeavour, and the envy that small-mindedness begets.... His heroes are not only poor and crave sympathy, but are half imbeciles, sensitive creatures, noble drabs, often victims of hallucinations, ...

— Ivory Apes and Peacocks • James Huneker

... himself with Titanic intellectualities, but who is a readable dramatic critic.... Mr. Hale is a modest and sensible, as well as an acute and sound critic.... Most people will be surprised and delighted with Mr. Hale's simplicity, perspicuity and ingenuousness." ...

— The Theory of the Theatre • Clayton Hamilton

... that the language of an heroic poem should be both perspicuous and sublime. In proportion as either of these two qualities is wanting, the language is imperfect. Perspicuity is the first and most necessary qualification; insomuch that a good-natured reader sometimes overlooks a little slip even in the grammar or syntax, where it is impossible for him to mistake the poet's sense. Of this kind is that passage in Milton, wherein ...

— Elementary Guide to Literary Criticism • F. V. N. Painter

... moments Raymond felt uneasy at the relations he had established with the workers, and Mr. Best did not hesitate to warn him again and again that discipline was ill served by such easy terms between employer and employed; but his moments of perspicuity were rare, for now his mind and soul were poured into one thought and one only. He was riotously happy in his love affair and could not pretend to his fellow creatures anything he did not feel. Always amiable and accessible, ...

— The Spinners • Eden Phillpotts

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