intellectus Latin · revision 7758

16 Oct 2026, 14:34 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)”
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cicero|origins=la legō}}
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''intellēctus''' ''m'' (genitive intellēctūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[intellegō]] “to understand” with the suffix of action nouns [[-tus]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL)^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and the OLD cites Cicero for the ablative with adjectives.^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant discerning with the senses, perception, as Pliny the Elder's perception of flavours, and in Seneca understanding, comprehension, ''intellectuī esse'' to be intelligible.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) In Cicero the ablative was used with adjectives, as ''facilis intellectū'' “easy to understand”.^(OLD 2012) From Vitruvius it meant the faculty of understanding, the intellect, and in Seneca the meaning, sense of a word.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant sense, meaning, insight, understanding, intellect.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for privity, connivance.^(Niermeyer 1976) It was borrowed into Italian as ''intelletto'' and French ''intellect'', and [[en|intellect]] came in the late 14th century, ''intellēctuālis'' gave [[en|intellectual]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses the ablative with adjectives.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of the intellect.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of comprehension and meaning.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * late 14th century – English ''intellect'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # Perception, discernment.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Understanding, comprehension.^(OLD 2012)
+ # The faculty of understanding, [[m|en|intellect]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # An understanding between persons.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Meaning, sense.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[intellēctuālis]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[intellegō]]
+ * [[en|intellect]]
+ * [[en|intellectual]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}