intuitif

Forms

intuitif (feminine intuitive, masculine plural intuitifs, feminine plural intuitives)^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned formation from Latin intuitus (“a glance, look”) with the suffix -if.^[2][3][1] The Latin noun is from the supine of intueor (“to look at”).^[4][5] Littré compares Italian intuitivo.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1480, in the Baratre infernal, describing knowledge that is immediate rather than reasoned.^[2][5][3]

Semantic evolution

In theology vision intuitive was the direct sight of God;^[5][6] Furetière recorded the phrase in 1690,^[5][6] and the adverb intuitivement is first theological (1599), then philosophical (1731).^[2][3] The word was long a term of philosophy, opposed to discursif.^[2][7] Like intuition, it became an everyday word in the 19th century: Michelet used it in 1845 for a person whose main faculty is intuition, and it is sometimes used as a noun, un intuitif.^[2][3][7]

Timeline

• 1480 – First record, in the Baratre infernal.^[2]
• 1599 – The adverb intuitivement in theology.^[2]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records the word.^[6]
• 1690 – Furetière records vision intuitive.^[5]
• 1845 – Michelet applies it to a person guided by intuition.^[2][3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Having the character of, or resulting from, an intuition; known directly rather than by reasoning: connaissance intuitive.^[7][2][5]
2. (theology) Vision intuitive: the direct sight of God.^[6][5]
3. Of a person, usually guided by intuition: une négociatrice intuitive, also as a noun, un intuitif.^[7][2]

Word family

• intuitivement

Related words

• intuition
• Latin intueor

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert