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clever

Pronunciation: /ˈklɛv.ə/

The English word “clever” has 12 meanings listed here.

adjective

  1. Nimble with hands or body; dexterous; skillful; adept.
  2. Quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent.
  3. Mentally quick and resourceful; skilled at achieving what one wants in a mentally agile and inventive way.
  4. Smart, intelligent, or witty; mentally quick or sharp.
  5. Sane; in one's right mind.
  6. Showing mental quickness and resourcefulness.
  7. Showing inventiveness or originality; witty.
  8. Fit and healthy; free from fatigue or illness.
  9. Good-natured; obliging.
  10. Possessing magical abilities.
  11. Fit; suitable; having propriety.
  12. Well-shaped; handsome.

Etymology

From East Anglian dialectal English cliver (“expert at seizing”), from Middle English cliver (“tenacious”). * perhaps from Old English *clifer, clibbor (“clinging”); * or perhaps from Dutch, Low German, or East/Saterland Frisian (compare kluftich (“clever, prudent”), probably derived from Proto-West Germanic *kleuban (“to cleave, split”)); * or dialectal Norwegian klover (“ready, skillful”),…

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