More intelligent or clever than someone or something else; the comparative form of 'brainy.'
Comparative form of 'brainy' (brain + -y suffix, meaning having or relating to brains), adding -er for comparison. From 'brain' (Old English 'brægen').
Calling someone 'brainy' became popular in the 20th century as intelligence became more valued in industrial societies. Before that, people used 'clever,' 'sharp,' or 'witty'—showing how our vocabulary reflects what traits we value.
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