percipient

1 of 2

noun

per·​cip·​i·​ent pər-ˈsi-pē-ənt 

1

: one that perceives

2

: a person on whose mind a telepathic impulse or message is held to fall

percipient

2 of 2

adjective

: capable of or characterized by perception : discerning

a percipient critic

percipiently adverb

Examples of percipient in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Raban, who died in January 2023 at the age of eighty, was perhaps the most subtle and percipient writer on travel of his generation. —Colin Thubron, The New York Review of Books, 19 Jan. 2023

He is being questioned not as a defendant but as a percipient witness present at the party. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Dec. 2023

Their investigators chase down official reports, talk to percipient witnesses, confirm details. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2023

My thanks to Times TV critic Lorraine Ali for her percipient take. —latimes.com, 25 May 2018

Adjective

That drew a horselaugh from veteran investor Jim Chanos, whose experience as a short-seller has given him a uniquely percipient feel for Wall Street foibles. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin percipient-, percipiens, present participle of percipere to perceive

First Known Use

Noun

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1692, in the meaning defined above