intrinsic

intrinsic
\ \ [15] The Latin adverb intrinsecus meant ‘on the inside’. It was formed from *intriminward’, an unrecorded derivative of the adverb intrāwithin’, and secusalongside’ (a relative of English second, sect, sequel, etc). In the post-classical period it came to be used as an adjective, meaning ‘inward’, and it passed into Old French as intrinsequeinner, internal’. This general concrete sense accompanied the word into English, but it now survives only as an anatomical term, meaning ‘situated within a body part’. The abstract sense ‘inherent’, now the adjective’s main meaning, developed in the 17th century.
\ \ The derivation of the antonym extrinsic [16] is precisely parallel, with Latin extrāoutside’ taking the place of intrā.
\ \ Cf.EXTRINSIC, SECOND, SECT, SEQUEL

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Intrinsic — In*trin sic ([i^]n*tr[i^]n s[i^]k), a. [L. intrinsecus inward, on the inside; intra within + secus otherwise, beside; akin to E. second: cf. F. intrins[ e]que. See {Inter }, {Second}, and cf. {Extrinsic}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Inward; internal;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • intrinsic — in·trin·sic /in trin zik, sik/ adj: belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. intrinsic …   Law dictionary

  • intrinsic — UK US /ɪnˈtrɪnsɪk/ adjective ► being an extremely important and basic characteristic of a person or thing: intrinsic to sth »Design is intrinsic to every product. an intrinsic part/element of sth »Stay at home mothers are an intrinsic part of the …   Financial and business terms

  • intrinsic — means ‘inherent, essential, belonging naturally’ and is the opposite of extrinsic: • The study of portraits on coins is…as much about the political factors that influenced them as about their intrinsic or moral interest A. Burnett, 1991. See… …   Modern English usage

  • Intrinsic — In*trin sic, n. A genuine quality. [Obs.] Warburton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • intrinsic — late 15c., interior, inward, internal, from M.Fr. intrinsèque inner (13c.), from M.L. intrinsecus interior, internal, from L. intrinsecus (adv.) inwardly, on the inside, from intra within (see INTRA (Cf. intra )) + secus alongside, originally… …   Etymology dictionary

  • intrinsic — inherent, ingrained, constitutional, essential Analogous words: inner, inward, internal, interior, inside, intestine: innate, inborn, inbred, congenital: natural, normal, typical, *regular Antonyms: extrinsic Contrasted words: *outer, outward,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • intrinsic —  Intrinsic  Беспримесный (собственный)   Полупроводник, в котором можно пренебречь влиянием примесей при данной температуре. Для полупроводников характерно наличие не очень широкой запрещенной зоны в энергетической диаграмме. При T=0оК у… …   Толковый англо-русский словарь по нанотехнологии. - М.

  • intrinsic — [adj] basic, inborn built in, central, congenital, connate, constitutional, constitutive, deep seated, elemental, essential, fundamental, genuine, hereditary, inbred, indwelling, inherent, inmost, innate, intimate, material, native, natural,… …   New thesaurus

  • intrinsic — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ belonging to the basic nature of someone or something; essential. DERIVATIVES intrinsically adverb. ORIGIN originally in the sense «interior, inner»: from Latin intrinsecus inwardly, inwards …   English terms dictionary

  • intrinsic — [in trin′sik, in trin′zik] adj. [LME intrinsique < MFr intrinsèque < LL intrinsecus, inward < L, inwardly < intra , within (see INTRA ) + secus, following: see EXTRINSIC] 1. belonging to the real nature of a thing; not dependent on… …   English World dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”