perspicuous
Meaning: Expressed clearly and easy to understand; transparently lucid in style or presentation.
Perspicuous describes the quality of writing, speech, or argument that is immediately clear to the reader or listener. It is a highly formal and somewhat rare word, used mainly in academic and philosophical writing. Often confused with 'perspicacious' (having keen insight), which describes the person rather than the expression. Common collocations include 'perspicuous prose,' 'perspicuous account,' and 'admirably perspicuous.'
Examples
- The philosopher was praised for her perspicuous prose in an age of needlessly opaque academic writing. 在不必要地晦涩的学术写作盛行的时代,这位哲学家因其明晰的散文而备受赞誉。La filósofa fue elogiada por su prosa perspicua en una época de escritura académica innecesariamente opaca.その哲学者は、不必要に難解な学術的文章が横行する時代にあって、その明晰な散文を称賛された。그 철학자는 불필요하게 난해한 학술 저술이 만연한 시대에 명쾌한 산문으로 칭송을 받았다.
- What makes the textbook so valuable is its perspicuous treatment of otherwise dauntingly complex material. 这本教科书之所以如此有价值,在于它对原本令人望而生畏的复杂材料进行了清晰透彻的阐述。Lo que hace tan valioso el manual es su tratamiento perspicuo de un material que, de otro modo, resultaría abrumadoramente complejo.その教科書が非常に価値あるものとなっているのは、そうでなければ圧倒的に複雑な題材を明快に扱っている点である。그 교과서가 매우 가치 있는 이유는, 그렇지 않으면 압도적으로 복잡한 소재를 명료하게 다루고 있다는 점이다.
- The judge delivered a perspicuous summary of the legal arguments before announcing the verdict. 法官在宣布裁决前,对法律论点进行了清晰明了的总结。El juez expuso un resumen perspicuo de los argumentos jurídicos antes de pronunciar el veredicto.裁判官は判決を言い渡す前に、法的論点を明晰に要約した。판사는 판결을 선고하기 전에 법적 쟁점을 명확하게 요약했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, literary, philosophical
Tone: positive
Origin & History
From Latin perspicuus (transparent, clear), from perspicere (to look through, see clearly), from per- (through) and specere (to look). Entered English in the late 15th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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