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intrinsic - 8 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


in⋅trin⋅si⋅cal⋅ly, adverb


1. native, innate, natural, true, real. See essential.


1. extrinsic.
in·trin·sic   (ĭn-trĭn'zĭk, -sĭk)   
adj.  
  1. Of or relating to the essential nature of a thing; inherent.
  2. 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.

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.

Intrinsic

In*trin"sic\, n. A genuine quality. [Obs.] --Warburton.

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.

Main Entry: in·trin·sic
Pronunciation: in-'trin-zik, -sik
Function: adjective
: belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing

Main Entry: in·trin·sic
Pronunciation: in-'trin-zik, -'trin(t)-sik
Function: adjective
1 : originating or due to causes or factorswithin a body, organ, or part <intrinsic asthma>
2 : originating and included wholly within an organ or part —used especially of certain muscles intrinsic muscle of the larynx> —compare EXTRINSIC 2

intrinsic in·trin·sic (ĭn-trĭn'zĭk, -sĭk)
adj.

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

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