intelligent

intelligent
intelligent, intellectual
As adjectives, these words both refer to the capacity of people to think. A person is intelligent who has quick understanding and an ability to apply thought processes effectively. (It is sometimes contrasted with clever, which is more concerned with the manipulation of thought for its own sake than with its useful application.) A person is intellectual (or an intellectual, for it is also a noun) who thinks and acts predominantly to serve the pursuit of knowledge and the appreciation of fine things in literature and the arts, and is less concerned with the mundane and material aspects of life. However, the notion of the intellectual unable to slice bread or drive a car has to be regarded as a somewhat dated (or never valid) stereotype.

Modern English usage. 2014.

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  • intelligent — intelligent, ente [ ɛ̃teliʒɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • 1488; lat. intellegens → intelligence 1 ♦ Qui a la faculté de connaître et de comprendre. Les êtres intelligents. ⇒ pensant. 2 ♦ Qui est, à un degré variable, doué d intelligence. ⇒ capable, éveillé,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • intelligent — intelligent, ente (in tèl li jan, jan t ) adj. 1°   Pourvu de la faculté de concevoir, de comprendre. •   Je parle, je chemine : Je sens en moi certain agent ; Tout obéit dans ma machine à ce principe intelligent, LA FONT. Fabl. X, 1. •   La… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Intelligent — In*tel li*gent, a. [L. intelligens, intellegens, entis, p. pr. of intelligere, intellegere, to perceive; inter between + legere to gather, collect, choose: cf. F. intelligent. See {Legend}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Endowed with the faculty of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • intelligent — 1 Intellectual, *mental, cerebral, psychic 2 Intelligent, clever, alert, quick witted, bright, smart, knowing, brilliant are comparable when they mean mentally quick or keen. Intelligent implies greater than average power to use one s mind… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • intelligent — UK US /ɪnˈtelɪdʒənt/ adjective ► able to learn and understand things quickly and easily: »A lot of thoroughly intelligent, sensible people have fallen for the salesman s charm. »a highly intelligent businessperson »an intelligent… …   Financial and business terms

  • intelligent — Adj std. (18. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus l. intellegēns ( entis), dem PPräs. von l. intellegere (intellēctum) verstehen, wahrnehmen, erkennen , zu l. legere zusammennehmen, ins Auge fallen, aussuchen und l. inter . Das lateinische Wort zu gr.… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • intelligent — Intelligent, [intellig]ente. adj. Pourveu de la faculté intellective, capable d entendre, & de raisonner. L homme est un estre intelligent. l Ange est une substance intelligente. En ce sens il n a guere d usage qu en ces phrases. Il signifie plus …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • intelligent — in·tel·li·gent adj: having or indicating a high or satisfactory degree of intelligence and mental capacity; esp: having or indicating an understanding of the nature and consequences of an act or decision a knowing and intelligent waiver of… …   Law dictionary

  • intelligent — intelligent: Das Adjektiv mit der Bedeutung »einsichtsvoll, ‹sach›verständig; klug, begabt« wurde im 18. Jh. aus lat. intelligens, intelligentis (Nebenform von intellegens) entlehnt. Dies ist Part. Präs. von intellegere (< *inter legere) »mit… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

  • intelligent — [in tel′ə jənt] adj. [L intelligens, prp. of intelligere: see INTELLECT] 1. having or using intelligence; rational 2. having or showing an alert mind or high intelligence; bright, perceptive, informed, clever, wise, etc. 3. a) designating or of a …   English World dictionary

  • intelligent — (adj.) c.1500, a back formation from intelligence or else from L. intelligentem (nom. intelligens), prp. of intelligere, earlier intellegere (see INTELLIGENCE (Cf. intelligence)). Intelligent design, as a name for an alternative to atheistic… …   Etymology dictionary

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