Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.
Class IV. Words Relating to the Intellectual FacultiesDivision (I) Formation of Ideas
Section V. Results of Reasoning
Faculties
498. Intelligence. Wisdom.
NOUN:INTELLIGENCE, capacity, comprehension, understanding; cuteness [colloq.], sabe [slang, U. S.], savvy [slang, U. S.]; intellect [See Intellect]; nous [colloq.], docity [dial.], parts, sagacity, mother wit, wit, esprit [F.], gumption [colloq.], quick parts, grasp of intellect; acuteness &c. adj.; acumen, longheadedness, arguteness, subtility, subtlety, penetration, perspicacy [obs.], perspicacity, discernment, due sense of, good judgment; discrimination [See Discrimination]; cunning [See Cunning]; refinement (taste) [See Taste].HEAD, brains, gray matter [colloq.], brain-stuff [colloq.], headpiece, upper story [colloq.], long head.
eagle -eye, – glance; eye of a lynx, eye of a hawk.
WISDOM, sapience, sense; good-, common -, horse – [colloq., U. S.], plainsense; clear thinking, rationality, reason; reasonableness &c. adj.; judgment, solidity, depth, profundity, caliber or calibre; enlarged views; reach -, compass- of thought; enlargement of mind.
GENIUS, lambent flame of intellect, inspiration, Geist [Ger.], fire of genius, heaven-born genius, soul; talent (aptitude) [See Skill].
[WISDOM IN ACTION] prudence [See Caution]; vigilance [See Care]; tact [See Skill]; foresight [See Foresight]; sobriety, self-possession, aplomb [F.], ballast, mental poise, balance.
a bright thought, an inspiration, not a bad idea.
VERB:BE INTELLIGENT &c. adj.; have all one’s wits about one; be brilliant, be witty, scintillate, coruscate; understand (intelligible) [See Intelligibility]; catch -, take in- an idea; take a -joke, – hint.
PENETRATE; see through, see at a glance, see with half an eye, see far into, see through a millstone [colloq.]; discern (descry) [See Vision]; foresee [See Foresight].
DISCRIMINATE [See Discrimination]; know what’s what [colloq.] [See Skill]; listen to reason.
ADJECTIVE:[APPLIED TO PERSONS] INTELLIGENT, quick of apprehension, keen, acute, alive, brainy [colloq.], awake, bright, quick, sharp; quick-, keen-, clear-, sharp- -eyed, -sighted, -witted; wide-awake; canny or cannie [archaic or dial.], sly, pawky [dial.], shrewd, astute; clear-headed; farsighted [See Foresight]; discerning, perspicacious, penetrating, piercing; argute; nimble-witted, needle-witted; sharp as a needle; alive to (cognizant) [See Knowledge]; clever (apt) [See Skill]; arch (cunning) [See Cunning]; pas si bête [F.]; acute [See Activity].
WISE, sage, sapient [often in irony], sagacious, reasonable, rational, sound, in one’s right mind, sensible, abnormis sapiens [L.], judicious, strong-minded.
IMPARTIAL, unprejudiced, unbiased, unbigoted, unprepossessed; undazzled, unperplexed; of unwarped judgment, equitable, fair.
COOL; cool-, long-, hard-, strong- headed; long-sighted, calculating, thoughtful, reflecting; solid, deep, profound.
PRUDENT (cautious) [See Caution]; sober, staid, solid; considerate, politic, wise in one’s generation; watchful [See Care]; provident (prepared) [See Preparation]; in advance of one’s age; wise as -a serpent, – Solomon, – Solon, – Nestor, -Mentor.
oracular; heaven-directed, heaven-born.
[APPLIED TO ACTIONS] WISE, sensible, reasonable, judicious; well-judged, well-advised; prudent, politic; expedient [See Expedience].
QUOTATIONS:
- Aut regem aut fatuum nasci oportet.
- But with the morning cool reflection came.—Scott
- Flosculi sententiarum.
- Les affaires font les hommes.
- Más vale saber que haber.
- Más vale ser necio que porfiado.
- Nemo solus sapit.—Plautus
- Nosce te.
- [Greek].
- Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiæ fuit.—Seneca, from Aristotle
- Sapere aude.—Horace
- Victrix fortunœ sapientia.—Juvenal
- Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom; and with all thy getting get understanding.—Bible
- Genius is always sufficiently the enemy of genius by over-influence.—Emerson
- I may not deal with wisdom, being a king.—Masefield