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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

intellectual en · ADJ

Pronunciation

  • /ˌɪntəˈlɛkt͡ʃʊəl/
  • (US) audio
  • /ˌɪntəˈlɛkt͡ʃwəl/
  • /ˌɪntəˈlɛkt͡ʃəl/

Etymology

From Old French intellectuel, from Latin intellectualis.

Meanings

  1. Pertaining to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive.
    • intellectual powers, activities, etc.
    • Indeed, this discovery of meaning in symbols may be the most astounding intellectual feat that any human being ever performs—and most humans perform it before they are seven years old! 1972, Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren, How to Read a Book, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 25:
    • 1920, Harold Monro, Preface to The year's at the spring; an anthology of recent poetry Pleasure is various, but it cannot exist where the emotions or the imagination have not been powerfully stirred. Whether it be called sensual or intellectual, pleasure cannot be willed
  2. Endowed with intellect; having a keen sense of understanding; having the capacity for higher forms of knowledge or thought; characterized by intelligence or cleverness
    • The Fenimore Cooper Indian is no doubt a brave and highly intellectual person, educated abroad, refined and cultivated by foreign travel, graceful in the grub dance or scalp walk-around, yet tender-hearted as a girl, walking by night fifty-seven miles in a single evening to warn his white friends of danger. 1894, Edgar Wilson Nye, “Chapter 30”, in Nye's History of the USA:
    • an intellectual person
  3. Suitable for exercising one's intellect; perceived by the intellect
    • A good deal of nonsense is written about sport and entertainment. Many of us can, with pleasant ease, suspend a severely intellectual task for a few hours to witness a first-class football match. 1916, Joseph McCabe, “Chapter IX”, in The Tyranny of Shams:
    • intellectual employments
  4. Relating to the understanding; treating of the mind.
    • intellectual philosophy, sometimes called "mental" philosophy
  5. (archaic, poetic) Spiritual.
    • I deem not profitless those fleeting moods / Of shadowy exultation; not for this, / That they are kindred to our purer mind / And intellectual life […] 1805, William Wordsworth, The Prelude, Book II, lines 331-334 (eds. Jonathan Wordsworth, M. H. Abrams, & Stephen Gill, published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1979)

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
most intellectual Degree=Sup lexicographic
more intellectual Degree=Cmp lexicographic
intellectuall alternative lexicographic

Antonyms

nonintellectual · visceral

Deriveds

intellectuality · intellectualisation · intellectualization · intellectual journey · intellectualoid · intellectual capital · pseudo-intellectual · hyperintellectual · intellectual freedom · intellectual rights · preintellectual · intellectual masturbation · intellectualism · intellectual property · intellectual dark web · intellectualistic · intellectualist · antiintellectual · ultraintellectual · intellectually · blepharophimosis-ptosis-intellectual disability syndrome · pseudointellectual · overintellectual · unintellectual · intellectual honesty · intellectual disability · alpha-thalassemia-intellectual disability syndrome · organic intellectual · intellectual prostitute · intellectualness · anti-intellectual · neurointellectual · intellectualish · intellectual developmental disorder · subintellectual · superintellectual

Hyponyms

mnestic

Relateds

intellect · overintellectualize · brain · intelligence · intellectualize · learned · faculty · bodily · intelligent

Synonyms

rational · logical · mental · cerebral · intellectual

Translations (60)

ru у́мственный (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · mi punenga (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · bg интелектуален (endowed with intellect) · de intellektuell (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · fi älyperäinen (suitable for exercising the intellect) · az zehni (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · ro intelectual (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · pl intelektualny (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · ka გონებრივი (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · km បញ្ញា (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · ca intel·lectual (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · tr akıllı (endowed with intellect) · fi intellektuaalinen (endowed with intellect) · de verstandesmäßig (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · mi ihumanea (endowed with intellect) · fi älykäs (endowed with intellect) · hi बौद्धिक (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · fi henkinen (relating to the understanding) · tl makaisipnon (endowed with intellect) · tl pang-isipan (endowed with intellect) · pt intelectual (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · kk зияткерлік (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · tr entellektüel (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · cmn 智力的 (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · tl makaisipnon (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · ka ინტელექტუალური (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · sv intellektuell (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · cy deallusol (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · mi uhumanea (endowed with intellect) · nl verstandelijk (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · bg умствен (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · gl intelectual (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · fi älyllinen (suitable for exercising the intellect) · nb intellektuell (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · bg интелектуален (suitable for exercising the intellect) · fi älyllinen (endowed with intellect) · tr aklî (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · ru интеллектуа́льный (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · fi henkinen (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · tr zeki (endowed with intellect) · fi mieli- (relating to the understanding) · cs intelektuální (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · cmn 思想的 (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · ja 知的な (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · fi älyllinen (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · fi älyllinen (relating to the understanding) · it intellettuale (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · cy dealltwriaethol (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · nb intellektuell (endowed with intellect) · fi henkinen (suitable for exercising the intellect) · nb intellektuell (endowed with intellect) · tl pang-isipan (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · it intellettuale (endowed with intellect) · bg мисловен (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · fr intellectuel (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · fi mielen (relating to the understanding) · es intelectual (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · nb intellektuell (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · grc νοητικός (belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive) · pt intelectual (endowed with intellect)

intellectual en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˌɪntəˈlɛkt͡ʃʊəl/
  • (US) audio
  • /ˌɪntəˈlɛkt͡ʃwəl/
  • /ˌɪntəˈlɛkt͡ʃəl/

Etymology

From Old French intellectuel, from Latin intellectualis.

Meanings

  1. An intelligent, learned person, especially one who discourses about learned matters.
    • It should be noted that there is now no intelligentsia that is not in some sense "Left". Perhaps the last right-wing intellectual was T. E. Lawrence. Since about 1930 everyone describable as an “intellectual” has lived in a state of chronic discontent with the existing order. 1941, George Orwell, The Lion and the Unicorn:
    • ‘You know I hate intellectuals.’ ‘You mean you hate people who are cleverer than you are.’ ‘Yes. I suppose that’s why I like you so much, Tom.’ 1991 September, Stephen Fry, chapter 1, in The Liar, London: Heinemann, →ISBN, section I, page 14:
  2. (archaic) The intellect or understanding; mental powers or faculties.
    • […] although their intellectuals had not failed in the theory of truth, yet did the inservient and brutall faculties control the suggestion of reason […] 1646, Thomas Browne, chapter 1, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], London: […] T[homas] H[arper] for Edward Dod, […], →OCLC, 1st book, page 2:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
intellectuall alternative lexicographic
intellectuals Number=Plur lexicographic

Coordinates

nerd · geek · egghead

Deriveds

public intellectual

Relateds

clerisy · intelligentsia

Synonyms

highbrow · scholar · academic

Translations (55)

mi ihumanea (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · fa روشنفکر (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · be інтэлектуа́л (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · he אינטלקטואל (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · ru интеллиге́нтка (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · fi intellektuelli (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · uk інтеліге́нтка (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · uk інтелектуа́л (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · mi uhumanea (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · ca intel·lectual (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · fr intello (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · gl intelectual (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · ug زىيالىي (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · be інтэліге́нтка (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · pl intelektualista (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · cmn 知識分子 /知识分子 (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · uk інтеліге́нт (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · hy մտավոր (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · ko 지식인 (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · cs intelektuál (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · de Intellektuelle (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · ky окумал (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · pl inteligent (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · uz ziyoli (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · pl intelektualistka (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · ru интеллектуа́лка (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · be інтэліге́нт (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · ru интеллиге́нт (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · vi trí thức (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · mk интелектуалец (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · hi बुद्धीजीवी (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · fi älykkö (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · fr intellectuel (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · ky зыялы (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · vi giới trí thức (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · id intelektual (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · ru интеллектуа́л (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · tl isipnon (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · tr aydın (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · sv intellektuell (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · de Intellektueller (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · mi iho pūmanawa (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · id cendekiawan (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · hi मनस्वी (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · pl inteligentka (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · tg зиёӣ (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · pt intelectual (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · ro intelectual (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · az ziyalı (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · bg интелектуалец (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · be інтэлектуа́лка (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · uk інтелектуа́лка (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · ja 知識人 (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · ro intelectuală (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters) · kk зиялы (intelligent person, interested in intellectual matters)