intangibles
UK[ɪnˈtændʒəblz]US[ɪnˈtændʒəblz]
n
assets that have value but are not physical objects, such as a company's reputation or brand recognition
n
abstract qualities or things that cannot be touched or physically measured, such as trust or happiness
Morpheme Breakdown
in
tangible
s
in
not
tangible
touchable
s
plural suffix
Etymology
the word "intangibles" is built upon its singular form "intangible". the core is the latin verb tangere, meaning "to touch", which gave rise to tangibilis (touchable). the latin negative prefix in- was attached to form intangibilis, literally meaning "not touchable". this term entered english in the early 17th century to describe imperceptible things. the plural suffix "-s" is a standard english grammatical addition, transforming the abstract concept into a countable noun often used in legal, financial, and philosophical contexts to denote non-physical assets or qualities.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + tangible (touchable) + s (plural suffix)
- in: a latin prefix meaning "not".
- tangible: from latin tangibilis, meaning "touchable", derived from tangere (to touch).
- s: an english suffix used to form the regular plural of nouns.
Examples
the company's greatest value lies in its intangibles, like its brand loyalty and patented processes.
when assessing a team's strength, one must consider intangibles such as morale and leadership.
modern economies increasingly depend on the creation and trade of intangibles.