Mastermind. As a verb it's the very summit of knowledge, or outstanding intellect according to some definitions. As an adjective, it's someone who plans something ingenious or complex.
It's been used a lot in the media and by politicians over the last couple of days to describe the alleged ringleader/planner of the Paris terrorist acts.
For me, it's the wrong word to use altogether. It was neither ingenious, or complex and didn't take much intellect to organise a few guns and gullible lads to blow themselves up after shooting a few Parisians.
It also undermines the proper use of the word mastermind, e.g. as used in the TV quiz show. I have no arguments with that (although some of the specialist subjects don't appear too difficult to me, but that's another issue), as you can soon tell if the contestant is worthy of the title 'Mastermind'. Put this so called terrorist mastermind in the hot chair, and he'll probably be like the permanently drunk priest on Father Ted shouting 'Guns!' and 'Allah!' or similar.
Maybe we should decide the future of civilisation via a quiz show, I'm sure that would work.
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