intellect means the faculty of thinking, judging, abstract reasoning, and conceptual understanding; the cognitive faculty.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, intellect ranks #2,350 of 14,448 for Most Incisive Words, #2,678 of 14,410 for Most Ponderous Words, #3,530 of 14,423 for Most Sublime Words, #6,157 of 14,297 for Words That Escaped Their Books.
intellect is pronounced /ˈɪntəlɛkt/.
Why “intellect” is a great word
The faculty of thinking, judging, abstract reasoning, and conceptual understanding. From Late Latin intellectus ("understanding, intellect"), from Latin intellegere ("to understand, perceive"), from inter ("between, among") + legere ("to choose, read, gather"). Unlike "intelligence," which suggests a latent, measurable capacity, or "wisdom," which implies seasoned, ethical application, intellect is the active and often solitary work of reason. It is the silent tracing of an argument through the small hours, the deliberate architecture of a theory from scattered facts, and the sharp, clean line drawn between sentiment and truth—a luminous but cold fire that illuminates everything except the reasons for its own burning.
Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin intellēctus (“understanding, intellect”), from Latin intellegō (“understand; reason”), from inter (“between, among”) + legō (“read”), with connotation of bind.
noun
- The faculty of thinking, judging, abstract reasoning, and conceptual understanding; the cognitive faculty.e.g.“Intellect is one of man's greatest powers.”
- The capacity of that faculty (in a particular person).e.g.“They were chosen because of their outstanding intellect.”
- A person who has that faculty to a great degree.e.g.“Some of the world's leading intellects were meeting there.”
Words closest in meaning
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