anti-intellectual

The word is a modern English compound, formed by directly combining the Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' with the Latinate adjective 'intellectual'. The prefix 'anti-' originates from the Ancient Greek preposition 'antí', meaning 'against'. 'Intellectual' stems from the Latin 'intellectus', the past participle of 'intelligere' (to understand), itself from 'inter-' (between) and 'legere' (to gather, choose). The compound 'anti-intellectual' thus logically constructs its meaning as 'against the intellect' or 'opposed to the life of the mind'. It emerged in the early 20th century, particularly in sociological and political discourse, to describe sentiments or movements that distrust or devalue abstract reasoning, expertise, and high culture.

Structure: anti (against) + intellectual (relating to the intellect) - anti: From Greek, via Latin. A prefix meaning 'against', 'opposite of', or 'preventing'. - intellectual: From Latin. An adjective (and noun) relating to the intellect, the faculty of reasoning and understanding.