Hypertext Webster Gateway: "incisive"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Incisive \In*ci"sive\, a. [Cf. F. incisif.]
1. Having the quality of incising, cutting, or penetrating,
as with a sharp instrument; cutting; hence, sharp; acute;
sarcastic; biting. ``An incisive, high voice.'' --G.
Eliot.
And her incisive smile accrediting That treason of
false witness in my blush. --Mrs.
Browning.
2. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the incisors; incisor; as, the
incisive bones, the premaxillaries.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
incisive
adj 1: having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine
distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and
politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike
reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a
fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative
observations" [syn: {acute}, {discriminating}, {keen},
{knifelike}, {penetrating}, {penetrative}, {piercing},
{sharp}]
2: very penetrating and clear and sharp in operation; "an
incisive mind"; "a keen intelligence"; "of sharp and
active intellect" [syn: {keen}, {sharp}]
3: suitable for cutting or piercing; "incisive teeth"; "the
piercing needle" [syn: {piercing}]
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