intellectual
UK[ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl]US[ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl]
adj
relating to the ability to think in an intelligent way and to understand things, especially difficult or complicated ideas and subjects
n
a person who is well educated and enjoys activities in which they have to think seriously about things
Morpheme Breakdown
intel
lect
ual
intel
lect
ual
Etymology
The word 'intellectual' originates from the Latin past participle intellectus, meaning "understanding" or "discernment," which itself is built from the verb intelligere ("to understand"). Intelligere is a compound of inter- ("between") and legere ("to choose, gather, read"), conveying the literal sense of "to choose between" or "to discern." This core idea of discerning and gathering meaning evolved into the abstract concept of the higher faculty of the mind. The English adjective, formed by adding the suffix -ual to the root, thus pertains to this discerning, rational capacity of the mind, and by extension, to a person who possesses and exercises this capacity.
Analysis
Structure: intel + lect + ual
intel: from Latin inter- (between, among), serving as a prefix.
lect: from Latin lectus, past participle of legere (to choose, gather, read), serving as the core root.
ual: from Latin -alis (pertaining to), serving as an adjective-forming suffix.
Examples
She was more interested in intellectual pursuits than in physical activities.
The book explores the intellectual history of the Enlightenment period.
He was a leading intellectual who wrote extensively on political theory.