/ ˌiːdjəʊ sæˈvɒ͂; NAmE ˌiːdjoʊ sæˈvɑ͂ː/ noun
( pl. idiot sav·ants or idiots sav·ants / ˌiːdjəʊ saˈvɒ͂; NAmE ˌiːdjoʊ sæˈvɑ͂ː/) (from French ) a person who has severe learning difficulties , but who has an unusually high level of ability in a particular skill, for example in art or music, or in remembering things
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WORD ORIGIN
French , literally knowledgeable idiot .