gescheit

• gescheid, gescheut (obsolete)

From Middle High German geschīde (“sensible, sly”), derived from schīden. Related to scheiden (“to separate, distinguish”).^[1] Based on the notion of “prudent, circumspect” it was associated with scheuen (“to shun, shy away”) and therefore frequently spelt gescheut. The -t thence and through generalisation of final devoicing. Cognate with Vilamovian gysiajt, Bavarian gscheid, and Swabian gscheid.

• IPA^(key): /ɡəˈʃaɪ̯t/

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gescheit (strong nominative masculine singular gescheiter, comparative gescheiter, superlative am gescheitesten)

1. (of people, actions) clever, intelligent, wise

   Synonyms: intelligent, klug, schlau, weise

   • 1808, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Fuast, erster Teil:

     Zwar bin ich geſcheidter als alle die Laffen, / Doctoren, Magiſter, Schreiber und Pfaffen.

     Although I am cleverer than all the poseurs – doctors, masters, scribes and preachers.

2. (informal, of things) reasonable, proper, decent, useful

   Synonyms: ordentlich, vernünftig

• The sense “clever” is used more in the southern half of German-speaking Europe. In the north, it is fairly rare and found chiefly in negation, e.g. nicht mehr gescheit sein (“to have lost one's mind”).

• blitzgescheit, obergescheit
• Gescheitheit

• “gescheit” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

• IPA^(key): /ɡəˈʃɑɪ̯t/

gescheit (masculine gescheiten, neuter gescheit, comparative méi gescheit, superlative am gescheitsten)

1. clever, intelligent