Roget's Thesaurus

#498. Intelligence, Wisdom

Nouns

intelligence, capacity, comprehension, understanding; cuteness, sabe [U.S.], savvy [U.S.]; intellect etc. 450; nous [Fr.], parts, sagacity, mother wit, wit, esprit, gumption, quick parts, grasp of intellect; acuteness etc. adj.; acumen, subtlety, penetration, perspicacy, perspicacity; discernment, due sense of, good judgment; discrimination etc. 465; cunning etc. 702; refinement etc. (taste) 850. head, brains, headpiece, upper story, long head; eagle eye, eagle-glance; eye of a lynx, eye of a hawk. wisdom, sapience, sense; good sense, common sense, horse sense [U.S.], plain sense; rationality, reason; reasonableness etc. adj.; judgment; solidity, depth, profundity, caliber; enlarged views; reach of thought, compass of thought; enlargement of mind. genius, inspiration, geist [G.], fire of genius, heaven-born genius, soul; talent etc. (aptitude) 698. [Wisdom in action] prudence etc. 864; vigilance etc. 459; tact etc. 698; foresight etc. 510; sobriety, self-possession, aplomb, ballast. a bright thought, not a bad idea. Solomon-like wisdom.

Verbs

be intelligent etc. adj.; have all one's wits about one; understand etc. (intelligible) 518; catch an idea, take in an idea; take a joke, take a hint. see through, see at a glance, see with half an eye, see far into, see through a millstone; penetrate; discern etc. (descry) 441; foresee etc. 510. discriminate etc. 465; know what's what etc. 698; listen to reason.

Adjectives

intelligent [Applied to persons], quick of apprehension, keen, acute, alive, brainy, awake, bright, quick, sharp; quick witted, keen witted, clear witted, sharp-eyed, sharp sighted, sharp witted; wide-awake; canny, shrewd, astute; clear-headed; farsighted etc. 510; discerning, perspicacious, penetrating, piercing; argute; quick-witted, nimble-witted, needle-witted; sharp as a needle, sharp as a tack; alive to etc. (cognizant) 490; clever etc. (apt) 698; arch etc. (cunning) 702; pas si bete [Fr.]; acute etc. 682. wise, sage, sapient, sagacious, reasonable, rational, sound, in one's right mind, sensible, abnormis sapiens [Lat.], judicious, strong-minded. unprejudiced, unbiased, unbigoted, unprepossessed; undazzled, unperplexed; unwarped judgment, impartial, equitable, fair. cool; cool-headed, long-headed, hardheaded, strong-headed; long-sighted, calculating, thoughtful, reflecting; solid, deep, profound. oracular; heaven-directed, heaven-born. prudent etc. (cautious) 864; sober, stand, solid; considerate, politic, wise in one's generation; watchful etc. 459; provident etc. (prepared) 673; in advance of one's age; wise as a serpent, wise as Solomon, wise as Solon. [Applied to actions] wise, sensible, reasonable, judicious; well-thought-out, well-planned, well-judged, well-advised; prudent, politic; expedient etc. 646.

Phrases

aut regem aut fatuum nasci oportet [Lat.]; but with the morning cool reflection came [Scott]; flosculi sententiarum [Lat.]; les affaires font les hommes [Fr.]; mas vale saber que haber [Sp.]; mas vale ser necio que profiadol nemo solus sapit [Lat.] [Plautus]; nosce te [Lat.]; gnothi seauton [Gr.]; nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit [Lat.] [Seneca from Aristotle]; sapere aude [Lat.] [Horace]; victrix fortunae sapientia [Lat.] [Juvenal].