\Sa*gac"i*ty\, n. [L. sagacitas. See {Sagacious}.]
The quality of being sagacious; quickness or acuteness of
sense perceptions; keenness of discernment or penetration
with soundness of judgment; shrewdness.
      Some [brutes] show that nice sagacity of smell.
                                               --Cowper.
      Natural sagacity improved by generous education. --V.
                                               Knox.
Syn: Penetration; shrewdness; judiciousness.
Usage: {Sagacity}, {Penetration}. Penetration enables us to
       enter into the depths of an abstruse subject, to
       detect motives, plans, etc. Sagacity adds to
       penetration a keen, practical judgment, which enables
       one to guard against the designs of others, and to
       turn everything to the best possible advantage.