perspicuity

plural perspicuities · alternative obsolete perspicuite · alternative obsolete perspicuitie · alternative obsolete perspicuitye · alternative obsolete perspicuyte · alternative obsolete perspycuitie

1. countableuncountableClarity, lucidity, especially in expression; the state or characteristic of being perspicuous.

   […]whether through the first officer's want of perspicuity or my own stupidity, I was not a bit the wiser for the explanation.

   1880, [George] Bernard Shaw, chapter XVIII, in The Irrational Knot … Being the Second Novel of His Nonage, London: Archibald Constable & Co., published 1905, →OCLC, page 354

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   Having thus given a very short summary of his life, I shall prosecute the several parts of it, not in order of time, but arranging his acts into distinct classes, for the sake of perspicuity.

   1909, C. Suetonius Tranquillus, translated by Alexander Thomson, edited by T. Forester, The Lives of the Twelve Cæsers, London: George Bell & Sons, pages 75-76

2. countableuncountablePerspicacity; insight.

   Thompson, a high school dropout, said with rare perspicuity that he doubted the FBI would hire him.

   1965 March 19, “The Stupid Spy”, in Time

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   “Well,” I answered, at first with uncertainty, then with inspiration, “he would do splendidly to lead your cotillon, if you think of having one.” ¶ “So you do not dance, Mr. Crocker?” ¶ I was somewhat set back by her perspicuity.

   1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 51

3. countablerareuncountableTransparency; translucence.

   It must have been on some such day of harsh sunlight, the incisive February brightness that gives perspicuity without warmth.

   1900, Edith Wharton, chapter 11, in The Touchstone