Sapient: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ง
sapient
[ หseษชpiษnt ]
intelligent being
Sapient refers to possessing wisdom or discernment, particularly in making judicious decisions. It is often used in philosophical or anthropological contexts to describe beings that exhibit advanced cognitive abilities, such as humans. In literature, it can signify an individual who has attained a high level of knowledge and insight. The term can also imply a depth of understanding that goes beyond mere knowledge to encompass wisdom and moral reasoning.
Synonyms
intelligent, knowledgeable, perceptive, sagacious, wise
Examples of usage
- The sapient decision-makers of the council gathered to discuss the future.
- In many stories, the protagonist has a sapient mentor providing guidance.
- Humans are often characterized as sapient beings due to their complex thought processes.
Translations
Translations of the word "sapient" in other languages:
๐ต๐น sรกbio
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเฅเคเคพเคจเฅ
๐ฉ๐ช weise
๐ฎ๐ฉ bijak
๐บ๐ฆ ะผัะดัะธะน
๐ต๐ฑ mฤ dry
๐ฏ๐ต ่ณขใ (ใใใใ)
๐ซ๐ท sage
๐ช๐ธ sabio
๐น๐ท bilgili
๐ฐ๐ท ์งํ๋ก์ด (์งํ๋กญ๋ค)
๐ธ๐ฆ ุญููู
๐จ๐ฟ moudrรฝ
๐ธ๐ฐ mรบdry
๐จ๐ณ ่ชๆ (cลngmรญng)
๐ธ๐ฎ modro
๐ฎ๐ธ vitur
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะฐาัะปะดั
๐ฌ๐ช แกแแแ แซแแแ (sibrdzeni)
๐ฆ๐ฟ aฤฤฑllฤฑ
๐ฒ๐ฝ sabio
Etymology
The term 'sapient' originates from the Latin word 'sapiens', which is the present participle of 'sapere', meaning 'to taste' or 'to be wise'. The root 'sapi-', associated with the concept of wisdom, evolved in various contexts over time, particularly in philosophical discussions about human nature and intellect. It gained prominence in medieval Latin and later in scientific classifications, such as 'Homo sapiens', which specifically refers to modern humans and underscores our intellectual capabilities. The use of 'sapient' in English dates back to the early 17th century, reflecting a growing interest in distinguishing human traits, particularly intelligence and wisdom, from other species. Over the centuries, 'sapient' has maintained its association with profound understanding and erudition, often used in literary and academic settings to discuss complex ideas about consciousness and the human experience.
Word Frequency Rank
This word's position of #34,907 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.
- ...
- 34904 undramatic
- 34905 potluck
- 34906 storable
- 34907 sapient
- 34908 instated
- 34909 elderberry
- 34910 agnatic
- ...