Savantism
/ˈsæv.ən.tɪz.əm/noun
A condition or trait associated with savant syndrome or exceptional specialized ability.
Did you know?The core word behind *savant* traveled from Latin *sapere* (“to taste, to be wise”), the same root behind *sapient* and *savor*, linking wisdom, perception, and flavor in one ancient idea.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
sapere
“to taste; to have discernment, be wise”
Late Latin
Latin
sapiens
“wise, knowing”
Old French
Old French
savant
“a learned person, scholar”
18th Century
English
savant
“a learned or knowledgeable person”
19th Century
English
savantism
“the state or condition of being a savant”