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   clever

   /ˈklɛvə/

   adjective

   • 1. quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent: "she was an extremely clever and studious young woman" Similar intelligentbrightsmartbrillianttalentedgiftedprecociouscapableablecompetentaptproficienteducatedlearnederuditeacademicbookishknowledgeablewisesagaciousinformal:brainygeniusOpposite stupid
   • ▪ skilled at doing or achieving something; talented: "he was very clever at getting what he wanted" Similar skilfuldexterousadroitdeftnimblenimble-fingeredhandyadeptskilledtalented
   • ▪ showing skill and originality; ingenious: "a simple but clever idea for helping people learn computing" Similar shrewdastutesharpacutequicksharp-wittedquick-wittedingeniousresourcefulcannycunningcraftyartfulwilyslickneatinformal:foxysavvyflypawkyas sharp as a tackcutewhip-smartOpposite ill-advisedfoolish
   • ▪ sensible; well advised: informal "Joe had a feeling it wasn't too clever, leaving Dolly alone"
   • 2. healthy or well: informal British "I was up and about by this time though still not too clever"

   Word Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘quick to catch hold’, only recorded in this period): perhaps of Dutch or Low German origin, and related to cleave2. In the late 16th century the term came to mean (probably through dialect use) ‘manually skilful’; the sense ‘possessing mental agility’ dates from the early 18th century.

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • C

     3

   • L

     1

   • E

     1

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

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