Both Uses

savant
in
Anna Karenina
(Auto-generated)

On the way he thought no more of money, but mused on the introduction that awaited him to the Petersburg savant, a writer on sociology, and what he would say to him about his book.†
Part 7

savant = someone recognized as spectacularly knowledgeable of skilled in a particular field
His friends who were specialists and savants, occasionally—unmistakably from politeness—alluded to it.†
Part 8 *

savants = people recognized as spectacularly knowledgeable or skilled in a particular field

Definitions:

(1) (savant)
someone recognized as spectacularly knowledgeable or skilled in a particular field
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)