Intellect

Pronunciation

Origin

From Latin intellēctus ("understanding, intellect"), perfect passive participle of intellegō ("understand; reason"), from inter ("between, among") + legō ("read"), with connotation of bind.

Full definition of intellect

Noun

1. the faculty of thinking, judging, abstract reasoning, and conceptual understanding; the cognitive faculty (uncountable)Intellect is one of man's greatest powers.
2. the capacity of that faculty (in a particular person) (uncountable)They were chosen because of their outstanding intellect.
3. a person who has that faculty to a great degreeSome of the world's leading intellects were meeting there.

Synonyms

Related terms

• intellectual
• intellectualism
• intellectualize
• intelligence
• intelligent
• intelligentsia
• intelligible