- Maxim (Substantives), aphorism, apophthegm, dictum, saying, adage, gnome, saw, proverb, sentence, precept, rule, formula, tag, code, motto, word, byword, moral, sentiment, phylactery, conclusion, reflection, thought, golden rule, axiom, theorem, scholium, lemma, truism.
- Absurdity (Substantives), absurdness, nonsense, folly, paradox, inconsistency, quibble, sophism 477, stultiloquy, stultiloquence, bull, Irishism, Hibernicism, sciamachy, imbecility.
- Intelligence (Substantives), capacity, nous, parts, talent, sagacity, sagaciousness, wit, mother-wit, esprit, gumption, quick parts, grasp of intellect.
In error, mistaken, etc., tripping, floundering, etc.
(Phrases). Wide of the mark; on the wrong scent; out of it; without a leg to stand upon.
Illusive, illusory, ideal, imaginary, fanciful, chimerical, visionary, shadowy, mock, futile.
Spurious, illegitimate, pseudo, bastard, meretricious, deceitful, sophisticated, adulterated.
Catechism, creed, profession of faith.
(Adjectives). Aphoristic, gnomic, proverbial, phylacteric, axiomatic, conclusive.
(Epithets). Wise, sage, true, received, admitted, recognised; common, hackneyed, trite, commonplace.
(Phrase). "Wise saws and modern instances."
Jargon, gibberish, rigmarole, double-Dutch, galimatias, fustian, rant, bombast, bathos, amphigouri, rhapsody, extravagance, rodomontade, romance; nonsense verse, Limerick.
Twaddle, twattle, fudge, rubbish, piffle, verbiage, trash, truism, stuff, balderdash, slip-slop, bavardage, palaver, baragouin, moonshine, fiddlestick, wish-wash, platitude, niaiserie, flummery, inanity, fiddle- faddle, rot, tommy - rot, bosh, tosh, blether, tripe, bilge.
Vagary, foolery, tomfoolery, mummery, monkey - trick, boutade, lark, escapade, rag.
(Phrases). A cock-and-bull story; a mare's nest; a wild-goose chase; "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing"; clotted nonsense; arrant rot.
(Adjectives). Absurd, nonsensical, foolish, etc. (see 499), sophistical, inconsistent, extravagant, cock- and-bull, quibbling, trashy, washy, wishy-washy, twaddling, etc., topsyturvy, Gilbertian.
Acuteness, acumen, shrewdness, astuteness, arguteness, sharpness, aptness, aptitude, quickness, receptiveness, subtlety, archness, penetration, perspicacity, perspicaciousness, clear-sightedness, discrimination, discernment, flair, refinement.
Head, brains, head - piece, a long head.
Wisdom, sapience, sense, good sense, common sense, plain sense, horse-sense, reason, reasonableness, judgment, judiciousness, solidity, depth, profoundness, catholicity, breadth of view, enlarged views, reach or compass of thoughts.
Genius, inspiration, the fire of genius.
Wisdom in action: prudence, discretion, aplomb 698, sobriety, tact, ballast.
(Phrase). Discretion being the better part of valour.
(Verbs). To be intelligent, wise, etc., to reason 476, to discern 441, discriminate 465, to penetrate, to see far into.