adj. (cleverer, cleverest) 1 skilful, talented; quick to understand and learn. 2 adroit, dextrous. 3 (of the doer or the thing done) ingenious, cunning. clever Dick (or clogs etc.) colloq. a person who is or purports to be smart or knowing. not too clever Austral. colloq. unwell, indisposed. cleverly adv. cleverness n.
[ ME, = adroit: perh. rel. to CLEAVE(2), with sense 'apt to seize' ]