Etymologically
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intellectual

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 04:59. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˌɪn.təlˈek.tʃu.əl/, /ˌɪn.təlˈek.tju.əl/, US /ˌɪn.t̬əlˈek.tʃu.əl/[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English, borrowed from Old French intellectuel and directly borrowed from Latin intellēctuālis (“relating to the understanding”),[2][3][4] from intellēctus (“discernment, understanding”) (see intellect),[3][5][6] the noun use of the past participle of intellegere (“to understand, discern”) (see intelligent),[3][2] literally to choose between, from inter- and legere (“to gather, choose”).[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of or belonging to the intellect or understanding: before 1398, in Trevisa's translation of Bartholomew's De Proprietatibus Rerum;[2][8] Etymonline has the late 14th century, grasped by the understanding rather than the senses.[3]

Semantic evolution

Apprehensible only by the mind, spiritual, is also from 1398.[8] Possessing understanding is from 1483,[8] and having a high degree of intellect, given to pursuits that exercise the mind, from 1819.[3][8] Appealing to or engaging the mental powers is from 1834.[3][8] Intellectual property, a general name for patents, copyrights and the like, is attested from 1845.[3][8] The noun meant the mind or intellectual powers in the 1590s;[3] an intellectual person is from the 1650s but was hardly used so in the 19th century, and the modern use seems to be a re-coinage of about 1906.[3]

Timeline

  • 1398 – of the intellect, in Trevisa.[2][8]
  • 1590s – the noun, the mind.[3]
  • 1650s – an intellectual person.[3]
  • 1819 – highly intelligent.[3][8]
  • 1834 – appealing to the mind.[3][8]
  • 1845 – intellectual property.[3][8]
  • c. 1906 – the noun re-coined.[3]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Of or relating to the intellect, as opposed to the emotions.
  2. Appealing to or requiring use of the intellect.
  3. Having or showing a highly developed intellect; given to thought and study.

Noun

  1. A highly intelligent person, or one devoted to study and ideas.

Word family

  • intellectuality
  • intellectually
  • intellectualness
  • anti-intellectual
  • hyperintellectual
  • intellectualism
  • intellectualization
  • overintellectual

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  7. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press