intellectual

intellectual
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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  • Intellectual — In tel*lec tu*al (?; 135), a. [L. intellectualis: cf. F. intellectuel.] [1913 Webster] 1. Belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental; as, intellectual powers, activities, etc. [1913 Webster] Logic is to teach us the right use of our… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • intellectual — UK US /ˌɪntəlˈektjuəl/ adjective ► relating to your ability to think and understand things, especially complicated ideas: »She takes an intellectual approach to decision making, rather than just following her instincts. »I enjoy the intellectual… …   Financial and business terms

  • intellectual — (adj.) late 14c., grasped by the understanding (rather than by the senses), from O.Fr. intellectuel and directly from L. intellectualis relating to the understanding, from intellectus discernment, understanding, from pp. stem of intelligere to… …   Etymology dictionary

  • intellectual — [in΄tə lek′cho͞o əl] adj. [ME < LL intellectualis] 1. of or pertaining to the intellect 2. appealing to the intellect 3. a) requiring or involving the intellect b) inclined toward activities that involve the intellect 4 …   English World dictionary

  • Intellectual — In tel*lec tu*al, n. 1. The intellect or understanding; mental powers or faculties. [1913 Webster] Her husband, for I view far round, not nigh, Whose higher intellectual more I shun. Milton. [1913 Webster] I kept her intellectuals in a state of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • intellectual — [adj] very smart bookish, brainy*, cerebral, creative, highbrow*, highbrowed*, intellective, intelligent, inventive, learned, mental, phrenic, psychological, rational, scholarly, studious, subjective, thoughtful; concept 402 Ant. foolish,… …   New thesaurus

  • Intellectual — (Intellectuell, v. lat), 1) sich auf den Verstand beziehend u. zunächst davon ausgehend, bes. in Gegenstellung vom Sinnlichen; 2) auf das Erkenntnißvermögen sich beziehend u. davon ausgehend, in Nebeneinanderstellung des vom Gefühls u.,… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • intellectual — index literate, mastermind, profound (esoteric), sapient Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • intellectual — *mental, psychic, cerebral, intelligent Antonyms: carnal Contrasted words: *bodily, physical, corporeal, cor poral, somatic: fleshly, animal, sensual (see CARNAL) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • intellectual — ► ADJECTIVE 1) relating or appealing to the intellect. 2) having a highly developed intellect. ► NOUN ▪ a person with a highly developed intellect. DERIVATIVES intellectuality noun intellectually adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • Intellectual — An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence (thought and reason) and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity. Contents 1 Terminology and endeavours 2 Historical perspectives 2.1 …   Wikipedia

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