Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1828, 1887
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CLEVERALITY, n. Cleverness, ability (Fif.10 1937). Also found in n.Eng. dial., 1832 (N.E.D.).Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch (1839) xi.:
He could not do less than ask the honest man, whose cleverality had diverted us so much, to . . . take a chack of supper.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 68:
Mr Fergusson . . . was a man of no little cleverality in some things.