savant

sa·vant

noun
\sa-ˈvänt, sə-, -ˈväⁿ; sə-ˈvant, ˈsa-vənt\

Definition of SAVANT

1

: a person of learning; especially : one with detailed knowledge in some specialized field (as of science or literature)

2

: idiot savant 1

Examples of SAVANT

1. <a savant in the field of medical ethics>

Origin of SAVANT

French, from Middle French, from present participle of savoir to know, from Latin sapere to be wise — more at sage

First Known Use: 1719

Related to SAVANT

Synonyms: pundit, sage, scholar

Related Words: seer, wise man; polyhistor, polymath, Renaissance man; brain, egghead, genius, highbrow, intellect, intellectual, thinker, whiz, wizard; guru, mahatma, pandit, swami, yogi (also yogin); rabbi; master, mentor, teacher

Near Antonyms: blockhead, dodo, dolt, donkey, dope, dumbbell, dummy, dunce, fathead, fool, goon, half-wit, idiot, ignoramus, imbecile, jackass, know-nothing, moron, nincompoop, ninny, nitwit, numskull (or numbskull), pinhead, simpleton, stock, turkey

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Rhymes with SAVANT

arpent, beurre blanc, croissant, L'Enfant, Mont Blanc, riant, roman, Rouen