479 years ago, on January 25, 1533, King Henry VIII of England secretly married his second wife, Anne Boleyn, who was already carrying the future Queen Elizabeth I. Henry and Anne’s relationship was a rocky one – particularly since he was king of the country and already married to someone else. But one should never discount the Boleyns. Anne was exceptionally sagacious and managed to snare the king, convinced him to divorce his wife after breaking with the Catholic Church, and became Queen. Not too bad. It’s a pity she still ended up losing her head in the end.
Sagacious (“suh-gay-shuhs”)
Adjective; from Dictionary.com:
1. Having or showing acute mental discernment and keen practical sense; shrewd;
2. Wise, sage, clever, intelligent; sharp
“I am aware of that,” the dowager said, thawing a trifle. “I have met your mother on several occasions, and she always struck me as remarkably sagacious for one of her rank.” (The Duke is Mine, Eloisa James)
Sagacious was coined sometime during the early 1600′s, stemming from the French-rooted word “sagacity” which, in turn, comes from Latin words sagax (“of quick perception”) and sagire (“to perceive by/from the senses”). Originally, one who was sagacious was known for having a keen or acute senses, particularly the sense of smell. That meaning is nearly obsolete now and a person who is sagacious is someone who is especially perceptive and aware of the world around them, using their intelligence to their advantage.
Your turn, bookworms – do you consider yourself sagacious? Which literary character would you consider the most sagacious?
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