penetrativenessn.
/ˈpɛnᵻtrətɪvnᵻs/, U.S. /ˈpɛnəˌtreɪdɪvnəs/, /ˈpɛnətrədɪvnəs/ Penetrative quality, power of penetration.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming in > [noun] > penetration > quality or power of
penetrancya1586
penetrability1609
penetrativeness1652
search1902
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > sharpness, shrewdness, insight > [noun]
sharpnessc897
yepshipc1000
insightc1175
yepleȝȝcc1175
yephedea1250
wit1297
fellnessa1382
policyc1440
discerningc1450
policec1450
inspectiona1527
perceivance1534
aptitude1548
sagacity1548
acuity?1549
nimbleness1561
acumen1579
seeing eye1579
esprit1591
acuteness1601
depth1605
penetration1605
knowingness1611
shrewdnessa1616
piercingnessa1628
discernment1646
sharpwittedness1647
nasuteness1660
arguteness1662
sagaciousness1678
perceptivity1700
keenness1707
cuteness1768
intuition1780
recollectedness1796
long-headedness1818
perceptiveness1823
kokum1848
incision1862
incisiveness1865
penetrativeness1873
flair1881
hard-boiledness1912
smart1964
spikiness1977
sus1979
1652 J. French York-shire Spaw viii. 71 Because of its wonderfull penetrativenes leaving no part or places of the body unsearched.
1873 M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma vi. 160 By his incomparable lucidity and penetrativeness.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses iii. xvii. [Ithaca] 625 Its persevering penetrativeness in runnels, gullies, inadequate dams, leaks on shipboard.
1983 Eng. Hist. Rev. 98 229 Of the first, whilst he cannot match the tension, pace, and penetrativeness of Frank Pakenham's classic account, he delivers a lucid view.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1652