astucity
|a-stu-ci-ty|
🇺🇸
/əˈstuːsɪti/
🇬🇧
/əˈstjuːsɪti/
practical cleverness / crafty intelligence
Etymology
'astucity' originates from French, specifically the word 'astuce', where the root meant 'craft' or 'trick'.
'astucity' changed from Old French 'astuce' (and Late Latin 'astutia') and was later borrowed or calqued into English as 'astucity'.
Initially, it meant 'craftiness' or 'a trick', but over time it evolved into its current range of meanings from 'shrewdness' to 'cunning'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality of being clever, perceptive, and able to make good practical judgments; shrewdness.
Her astucity in negotiations won the company better terms than expected.
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Noun 2
cunning or craftiness used to achieve an end (often with a slightly negative nuance).
The politician's astucity allowed him to avoid direct answers and control the narrative.
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Last updated: 2025/11/08 22:50