intrinsic definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms

built-in, congenital, elemental, inborn, inbred, indigenous, ingrained, inherent, innate, native, natural, basic

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intrinsic - 6 dictionary results

in⋅trin⋅sic

[in-trin-sik, -zik]

–adjective

1.	belonging to a thing by its very nature: the intrinsic value of a gold ring.

2.	Anatomy. (of certain muscles, nerves, etc.) belonging to or lying within a given part.

Also, in⋅trin⋅si⋅cal.

Origin:
1480–90; < ML intrinsecus inward (adj.), L (adv.), equiv. to intrin- (int(e)r-, as in interior + -im adv. suffix) + secus beside, deriv. of sequī to follow

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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in·trin·sic (ĭn-trĭn'zĭk, -sĭk) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Of or relating to the essential nature of a thing; inherent.
Anatomy Situated within or belonging solely to the organ or body part on which it acts. Used of certain nerves and muscles.

[Middle English intrinsique, inner, from Old French intrinseque, from Late Latin intrīnsecus, inward, from Latin, inwardly; see en in Indo-European roots.]

in·trin'si·cal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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intrinsic

1490, "interior, inward, internal," from M.Fr. intrinsèque (13c.) "inner," from M.L. intrinsecus "interior, internal," from L. intrinsecus (adv.) "inwardly, on the inside," from intra "within" + secus "alongside," originally "following" (related to sequi "to follow"). Meaning "belonging to the nature of a thing" is from 1642.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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intrinsic
adjective
1.	belonging to a thing by its very nature; "form was treated as something intrinsic, as the very essence of the thing"- John Dewey [ant: extrinsic]
2.	situated within or belonging solely to the organ or body part on which it acts; "intrinsic muscles"

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Intrinsic

In*trinse"\ (-tr[i^]ns"), a. [See Intrinsic, and Intense.] Tightly drawn; or (perhaps) intricate. [Very rare]

Like rats, oft bite the holy cords atwain, Which are too intrinse to unloose. --Shak.

Intrinsic

In*trin"sic\ ([i^]n*tr[i^]n"s[i^]k), a. [L. intrinsecus inward, on the inside; intra within + secus otherwise, beside; akin to E. second: cf. F. intrins[`e]que. See Inter-, Second, and cf. Extrinsic.]

1. Inward; internal; hence, true; genuine; real; essential; inherent; not merely apparent or accidental; -- opposed to extrinsic; as, the intrinsic value of gold or silver; the intrinsic merit of an action; the intrinsic worth or goodness of a person.

He was better qualified than they to estimate justly the intrinsic value of Grecian philosophy and refinement. --I. Taylor.

2. (Anat.) Included wholly within an organ or limb, as certain groups of muscles; -- opposed to extrinsic.

Intrinsic energy of a body (Physics), the work it can do in virtue of its actual condition, without any supply of energy from without.

Intrinsic equation of a curve (Geom.), the equation which expresses the relation which the length of a curve, measured from a given point of it, to a movable point, has to the angle which the tangent to the curve at the movable point makes with a fixed line.

Intrinsic value. See the Note under Value, n.

Syn: Inherent; innate; natural; real; genuine.

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