Nearby Words
əradjective, -er, -est.
1.
mentally bright; having sharp or quick intelligence; able.
2.
superficially skillful, witty, or original in character or construction; facile: It was an amusing, clever play, but of no lasting value.
3.
showing inventiveness or originality; ingenious: His clever device was the first to solve the problem.
4.
adroit with the hands or body; dexterous or nimble.
5.
Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English cliver, akin to Old English clifer claw, clife burdock. See cleavers
1175–1225; Middle English cliver, akin to Old English clifer claw, clife burdock. See cleavers
Related forms
clev·er·ish, adjective
clev·er·ish·ly, adverb
clev·er·ly, adverb
clev·er·ness, noun
o·ver·clev·er, adjective
EXPANDo·ver·clev·er·ly, adverb
o·ver·clev·er·ness, noun
un·clev·er, adjective
un·clev·er·ly, adverb
un·clev·er·ness, noun
COLLAPSESynonyms
1. ingenious, talented, quick-witted; smart, gifted; apt, expert. 4. skillful, agile, handy.
1. ingenious, talented, quick-witted; smart, gifted; apt, expert. 4. skillful, agile, handy.
Antonyms
1. stupid. 4. clumsy.
1. stupid. 4. clumsy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To clever
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Clever
is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
clever
c.1590, from E.Anglian dial. cliver "expert at seizing," probably from E.Fris. klufer or Norwegian dialectic klover "ready, skillful," perhaps infl. by O.E. clifer "claw, hand" (early usages seem to refer to dexterity); extension to intellect is first recorded 1704.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
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