Intellectual:
Pronunciation:\?in-t?-?lek-ch?-w?l,-ch?l,-shw?l,-chü(-?)l\
Function: adjective
Date:14th century
1 a : of or relating to the intellect or its use b : developed or chiefly guided by the intellect rather than by emotion or experience : rational c : requiring use of the intellect <intellectual games>
1 a : of or relating to the intellect or its use b : developed or chiefly guided by the intellect rather than by emotion or experience : rational c : requiring use of the intellect <intellectual games>
2 a : given to study,reflection,and speculation b : engaged in activity requiring the creative use of the intellect <intellectual playwrights>
— in·tel·lec·tu·al·i·ty
\-?lek-ch?-?wa-l?-t?\ noun
— in·tel·lec·tu·al·ly
\-?lek-ch?-w?-l?,-ch?-l?,-shw?-l?,-chü(-?)-l?\ adverb
— in·tel·lec·tu·al·ness
\-?lek-ch?-w?l-n?s,-ch?l-,-shw?l-,-chü(-?)l-\ noun
–adjective
1. appealing to or engaging the intellect:intellectual pursuits.
2. of or pertaining to the intellect or its use:intellectual powers.
3. possessing or showing intellect or mental capacity,esp. to a high degree:an intellectual person.
4. guided or developed by or relying on the intellect rather than upon emotions or feelings;rational.
5. characterized by or suggesting a predominance of intellect:an intellectual way of speaking.
Synonyms:bookish,brainy,cerebral,creative,highbrow,highbrowed,intellective,intelligent,inventive,learned,mental,phrenic,psychological,rational,scholarly,studious,subjective,thoughtful
–noun
6. a person of superior intellect.
7. a person who places a high value on or pursues things of interest to the intellect or the more complex forms and fields of knowledge,as aesthetic or philosophical matters,esp. on an abstract and general level.
8. an extremely rational person;a person who relies on intellect rather than on emotions or feelings.
9. a person professionally engaged in mental labor,as a writer or teacher.
10. intellectuals,Archaic .
a. the mental faculties.
b. things pertaining to the intellect.
Synonyms:Einstein,academic,academician,avant-garde,brain*,braintruster,doctor,egghead,genius,highbrow,intelligentsia,philosopher,pundit,sage,scholar,thinker,whiz*,wizard
Origin:
1350–1400; ME <L intell?ctu?lis, equiv. to intell?ctu-, s. of intell?ctus intellect + -?lis -al1
1350–1400; ME <L intell?ctu?lis, equiv. to intell?ctu-, s. of intell?ctus intellect + -?lis -al1
References
“intellectual.”Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010. Merriam-Webster Online. 28 May 2010. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intellectual>
“intellectual.”Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House,Inc. 28 May. 2010. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/intellectual>.