Sapient: meaning, definitions and examples

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sapient

 

[ หˆseษชpiษ™nt ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

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:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น sรกbio

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคœเฅเคžเคพเคจเฅ€

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช weise

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ bijak

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะผัƒะดั€ะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ mฤ…dry

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ่ณขใ„ (ใ‹ใ—ใ“ใ„)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท sage

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ sabio

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท bilgili

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ง€ํ˜œ๋กœ์šด (์ง€ํ˜œ๋กญ๋‹ค)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุญูƒูŠู…

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ moudrรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ mรบdry

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่ชๆ˜Ž (cลngmรญng)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ modro

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ vitur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐา›ั‹ะปะดั‹

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒ˜แƒ‘แƒ แƒซแƒ”แƒœแƒ˜ (sibrdzeni)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ aฤŸฤฑllฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ 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.