Word of the year 2023

In an age where AI and Donald Trump have left many doubting the truth, US dictionary Merriam-Webster has revealed 2023’s most looked-up word. Photo: Pexels

Word of the day: Sapient

Expand your vocabulary with The South African’s word of the day. Each day The South African offers you an opportunity to learn new words.

Word of the year 2023

In an age where AI and Donald Trump have left many doubting the truth, US dictionary Merriam-Webster has revealed 2023’s most looked-up word. Photo: Pexels

Learn some of the most interesting English words from The South African’s WORD OF THE DAY!

If you are a wordsmith or want to learn a new word to impress that special someone, this content is for you!

Today’s word of the day is: Sapient meaning

Sapient

Sapient is a formal word that means “possessing or expressing great wisdom.”

Pronunciation: [SAY-pee-unt]

We human beings certainly like to think we’re wise. It’s a fact reflected in the scientific name we’ve given our species, Homo sapiens, which comes in part from the Latin word sapiens, meaning “wise” or “intelligent.” Sapient (which is basically just a fancy synonym of wise) has the same source. Both words ultimately trace to the Latin verb sapere, meaning “to be wise,” and also “to taste.” Other sapere words pepper the language as well, among them sage (as in “sage advice”), savant, savvy, and savor.

Example: She was grateful to have in her mentor an ever-reliable source of sapient career advice.

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