nous
UK[naʊs]US[naʊs]
n
(in philosophy) intellect or mind, especially as the source of all rational thought and knowledge.
n
(British informal) common sense; practical intelligence.
Etymology
The word 'nous' entered English directly from the Greek 'νοῦς' (nous), meaning 'mind', 'intellect', or 'the faculty of rational thought'. In ancient Greek philosophy, particularly in the works of Aristotle, it denoted the highest intellectual faculty, the part of the soul responsible for understanding first principles. The term was adopted into English philosophical vocabulary to retain this precise, technical meaning, distinguishing it from more general terms like 'mind'. Its later, informal British usage meaning 'common sense' represents a colloquial metaphorical extension of the original concept of innate intellectual ability.
Analysis
This word is a direct loanword from Greek. It is not productively segmented using English spelling morphemes.
Examples
For Plato, the world of forms could only be apprehended by the nous.
He's a brilliant scholar but has absolutely no nous when it comes to everyday affairs.
The debate centered on the role of nous in ethical decision-making.