Literary notes about Argute (AI summary)
The adjective "argute" is used in literature to evoke acuteness, subtlety, and cleverness in both speech and description. It frequently appears in contexts emphasizing sharp military or intellectual discourse, as seen in discussions of Gaulish virtues where martial skill is paralleled by witty or acutely clever expression [1, 2, 3, 4]. At times, "argute" is applied more broadly to describe the finely wrought or cunningly tempered quality of various objects—ranging from serrated leaves to imbued qualities in metalwork [5, 6, 7]. Additionally, the term can convey a sense of elegant, sapient judgment or even an almost musical quality in a voice [8, 9, 10].
- Or, 2, 2 (Jordan) Pleraque Gallia duas res industrissime persequitur, rem militare et argute loqui .
— from The Histories of Polybius, Vol. 1 (of 2) by Polybius - “There are two things,” he says, “to which the Gauls are devoted—the art of war and subtlety of speech” ( “ rem militarem et argute loqui ” ).
— from Myths & Legends of the Celtic Race by T. W. (Thomas William) Rolleston - Like the heroes of the Celtic poems, like the inhabitants of Gaul in all ages, he is prompt at repartee ( argute loqui ).
— from A Literary History of the English People, from the Origins to the Renaissance by J. J. (Jean Jules) Jusserand - The people of Gaul, said Cato, have two passions: to fight well and talk cleverly ( argute loqui ).
— from A Literary History of the English People, from the Origins to the Renaissance by J. J. (Jean Jules) Jusserand - CHEIRANTHUS mutabilis foliis lanceolatis acuminatis argute serratis, caule frutescente, siliquis pedunculatis.
— from The Botanical Magazine, Vol. 06 Or, Flower-Garden Displayed by William Curtis - Thirdly, we learn, that the blades were “cunningly tempered” or “ argute temperata .”
— from Mexican Copper Tools: The Use of Copper by the Mexicans Before the Conquest; and the Katunes of Maya History, a Chapter in the Early History of Central America, With Special Reference to the Pio Perez Manuscript. by Philipp J. J. (Philipp Johann Josef) Valentini - If we ask whence he derived the notion that the bronze tools were “argute temperata” we shall find that he failed to give any authority.
— from Mexican Copper Tools: The Use of Copper by the Mexicans Before the Conquest; and the Katunes of Maya History, a Chapter in the Early History of Central America, With Special Reference to the Pio Perez Manuscript. by Philipp J. J. (Philipp Johann Josef) Valentini - Quam argute, quam obscure : at first sight an oxymoron, but argute need not only imply clearness , it means merely "acutely".
— from Academica by Marcus Tullius Cicero - “It is right well imagined,” said Catherine, “and shows an argute judgment.
— from The Abbot by Walter Scott - Then she would jump up out of the ground, and shout into his ears, with a voice of argute silver— “Faddery, will ‘oo have ‘oor shoe?
— from Cradock Nowell: A Tale of the New Forest. Vol. 2 (of 3) by R. D. (Richard Doddridge) Blackmore
