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intellego

Etymology and origin of the Latin word intellego

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Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (legō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪnˈtɛl.lɛ.ɡoː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈtɛl.le.ɡo][1]

Forms

intellegō (present infinitive intellegere, perfect active intellēxī, supine intellēctum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is most likely from inter- (“between”) and legō “to gather, choose”, as “to choose between, discern”.[2][1][3] Another view takes the second part from an unrelated Proto-Italic *legō “to care”.[1] The spelling ⟨intelligō⟩ is also found, though Lewis and Short call it less correct.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, who also has the short forms intellēxtī and intellēxēs.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to grasp mentally, understand, realize, as in Plautus, and to understand by inference, deduce, also to supply something unexpressed.[2] It meant to discern physical qualities, recognize, to appreciate the value of a thing, and to understand the meaning of words or a language, as in Pacuvius.[2] It also meant to understand a term to mean something, and intransitively to have understanding, as in Terence.[2] Döderlein says intellegere is discernment by reflection, sentiō by feeling, and cognōscō by learning.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to perceive, understand and give heed to.[6] It survives in Romanian înțelege and Old French entelgir.[1] English intelligence comes from intellegentia in the late 14th century, English intellectual from intellēctuālis, and English intelligent about 1500.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of understanding.[2][4]
  • 220–130 BC – Pacuvius uses it of understanding words.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of inference.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English intelligence is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To understand, realize, grasp mentally.[2]
  2. To understand by inference, deduce.[2]
  3. To discern, recognize.[2]
  4. To appreciate the value of.[2]
  5. To understand (a word, a language).[2]
  6. To understand (as meaning or being).[2]
  7. (intransitive) To have understanding.[2]

Word family

  • inintellegens
  • intellēctiō
  • intellectiuus
  • intellēctor
  • intellēctus
  • intellegentia
  • intellegibilis
  • subintellegō
  • intellegēns
  • intellegenter
  • intelligibilis

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Intellego.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/intellego. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·