intellect

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English

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin intellēctus (understanding, intellect), perfect passive participle of Latin intellegō (understand; reason), from inter (between, among) + legō (read), with connotation of bind.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɪntəlɛkt/
  • (file)

Noun

intellect (countable and uncountable, plural intellects)

  1. (uncountable) The faculty of thinking, judging, abstract reasoning, and conceptual understanding; the cognitive faculty.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:intelligence
    Intellect is one of man's greatest powers.
  2. (uncountable) The capacity of that faculty (in a particular person).
    They were chosen because of their outstanding intellect.
    • 1983, “Intelligence”, in Shiver, performed by Virna Lindt:
      Arms of stripes and shirts of checks / You had a very nice intellect
  3. A person who has that faculty to a great degree.
    Synonym: intellectual
    Some of the world's leading intellects were meeting there.

Related terms

Translations

See also

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin intellēctus (understanding, intellect), perfect passive participle of Latin intellegō (understand; reason).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɛ̃.tɛ.lɛkt/, /ɛ̃.te.lɛkt/
  • (file)

Noun

intellect m (plural intellects)

  1. (psychology, philosophy) intellect

Related terms

See also

Further reading