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intellect

 - 5 dictionary results

in⋅tel⋅lect

  [in-tl-ekt]
Use intellect in a Sentence
–noun
1. the power or faculty of the mind by which one knows or understands, as distinguished from that by which one feels and that by which one wills; the understanding; the faculty of thinking and acquiring knowledge.
2. capacity for thinking and acquiring knowledge, esp. of a high or complex order; mental capacity.
3. a particular mind or intelligence, esp. of a high order.
4. a person possessing a great capacity for thought and knowledge.
5. minds collectively, as of a number of persons or the persons themselves.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L intellēctus, equiv. to intelleg(ere) to understand + -tus suffix of v. action; see intelligent

Synonyms:
1. reason, sense, common sense, brains. See mind.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To intellect
in·tel·lect   (ĭn'tl-ěkt')   
n.  

    1. The ability to learn and reason; the capacity for knowledge and understanding.

    2. The ability to think abstractly or profoundly. See Synonyms at mind.

  2. A person of great intellectual ability.


[Middle English, from Old French intellecte, from Latin intellēctus, perception, from past participle of intellegere, to perceive; see intelligent.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

intellect 
c.1386, from L. intellectus "discernment, understanding," from pp. stem of intelligere "to understand, discern" (see intelligence). The noun use of intellectual for persons is from 1652.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: in·tel·lect
Pronunciation: 'int-&l-"ekt
Function: noun
1 : the power of knowing as distinguished from thepower to feel and to will : the capacity for knowledge
2 : the capacity for rational or intelligent thought —in·tel·lec·tu·al /"int-&l-'ek-ch(&-w)&l, -'eksh-w&l/ adjective —in·tel·lec·tu·al·ly adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Computing Dictionary

INTELLECT language
A query language written by Larry Harris in 1977, close to natural English.
(1995-04-14)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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