intellectual English · revision 6122

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1398|origins=la intellegere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˌɪn.təlˈek.tʃu.əl/, /ˌɪn.təlˈek.tju.əl/, US /ˌɪn.t̬əlˈek.tʃu.əl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English, [[bor|fro|intellectuel]] and directly [[bor|la|intellēctuālis|t=relating to the understanding]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|intellēctus|t=discernment, understanding]] (see [[intellect]]),^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) the noun use of the past participle of [[m|la|intellegere|t=to understand, discern]] (see [[intelligent]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) literally to choose between, from [[m|la|inter-]] and [[m|la|legere|t=to gather, choose]].^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or belonging to the intellect or understanding: before 1398, in Trevisa's translation of Bartholomew's ''De Proprietatibus Rerum'';^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Etymonline has the late 14th century, grasped by the understanding rather than the senses.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Apprehensible only by the mind, spiritual, is also from 1398.^(OED 1989) Possessing understanding is from 1483,^(OED 1989) and having a high degree of intellect, given to pursuits that exercise the mind, from 1819.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Appealing to or engaging the mental powers is from 1834.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Intellectual property'', a general name for patents, copyrights and the like, is attested from 1845.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The noun meant the mind or intellectual powers in the 1590s;^(Etymonline) 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.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1398 – of the intellect, in Trevisa.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590s – the noun, the mind.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1650s – an intellectual person.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1819 – highly intelligent.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1834 – appealing to the mind.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1845 – intellectual property.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1906 – the noun re-coined.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or relating to the [[intellect]], as opposed to the emotions.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Appealing to or requiring use of the intellect.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Having or showing a highly developed intellect; given to thought and study.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A highly intelligent person, or one devoted to study and ideas.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[intellectuality]]

+ * [[intellectually]]

+ * [[intellectualness]]

+ * [[anti-intellectual]]

+ * [[hyperintellectual]]

+ * [[intellectualism]]

+ * [[intellectualization]]

+ * [[overintellectual]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[intellect]]

+ * [[intellectualize]]

+ * [[intelligence]]

+ * [[intelligent]]

+ * [[overintellectualize]]

+ * [[intelligentsia]]

+ * [[legible]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}