intolerant
UK[ɪnˈtɒlərənt]US[ɪnˈtɑːlərənt]
adj
not willing to accept ideas, beliefs, or behavior that are different from your own.
adj
(of the body) reacting badly to a particular food, substance, or medicine.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
tolerant
in
not
tolerant
accepting
Etymology
the word 'intolerant' is formed by adding the latin negative prefix 'in-' to the adjective 'tolerant'. its core, 'tolerant', stems from the latin verb 'tolerare', meaning 'to bear or endure'. the concept evolved from the physical act of withstanding hardship to the abstract social capacity for enduring differing beliefs or practices. therefore, 'intolerant' literally means 'not bearing', which directly translates to the modern meaning of being unwilling to accept or endure differences.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + tolerant (accepting)
in- (latin origin, a prefix meaning 'not'); tolerant (from latin 'tolerans', present participle of 'tolerare' meaning 'to bear, endure', functioning as the core adjective).
Examples
he was intolerant of any criticism of his work.
she became lactose intolerant as an adult.
the regime was notoriously intolerant of political dissent.