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Word-loving Homo sapiens will appreciate how much there is to know about savant. For one, savant comes ultimately from the Latin word sapere (“to be wise”) by way of Middle French, where savant is the present participle of savoir, meaning “to know.” Second, savant shares roots with the English words sapient (“possessing great wisdom”) and sage (“very wise”) (as well as Homo sapiens). Finally, the term is sometimes used to refer to a person who demonstrates extraordinary knowledge in a particular subject or has an extraordinary ability to perform a particular task (such as complex mathematics) but has more limited capacities in other areas.
Examples of savant in a Sentence
Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Oct. 2024
Still radiating a newlywed glow, supermodel Karen Elson, whose friendship with Simmons goes way back, also joined the shoe savants on co-hosting duty for the intimate afternoon.
—Freya Drohan, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2024
Explore Davido See latest videos, charts and news Tickets for the concert presented by Wynn Records are currently on sale over at Ticketmaster, which is also set to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Afrobeats savant’s boundary-shattering A Good Time LP.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2024
Sustainability savants are seeking systemic shifts.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 27 Sep. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Savant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savant. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
savant
noun
from French savant, a form of the verb savoir "to know," from Latin sapere "to be wise, taste, have good taste" — related to insipid, sage entry 1
Medical Definition
savant
noun
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