intelligible
[in-tel-i-juh-buh l]
- capable of being understood; comprehensible; clear: an intelligible response.
- Philosophy. apprehensible by the mind only; conceptual.
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Origin of intelligible
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin intelligibilis, equivalent to intellig- (see intelligent) + -ibilis -ible
Synonyms
See more synonyms for intelligible on Thesaurus.com1. distinct, lucid, coherent.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for intelligible
Contemporary Examples
Koon: His arms were at his side and the first words that were intelligible that I heard him audible at that time.
Historical Examples
The generous "twinge of pain," to which she confesses, was intelligible.
De Libris: Prose and VerseAustin Dobson
To make this intelligible to the English, some comments are necessary.
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
It further happened that Mrs Plornish, not being philosophical, was intelligible.
Little DorritCharles Dickens
He would find it noisy and tedious, even if it were intelligible.
You will therefore find it intelligible that reasonable men cannot break our laws.
FreelandTheodor Hertzka
intelligible
- able to be understood; comprehensible
- philosophy
- capable of being apprehended by the mind or intellect alone
- (in metaphysical systems such as those of Plato or Kant) denoting that metaphysical realm which is accessible to the intellect as opposed to the world of mere phenomena accessible to the senses
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Word Origin
C14: from Latin intellegibilis; see intellect
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for intelligible
adj.
late 14c., "able to understand," from Latin intelligibilis, intellegibilis "that can understand, that can be understood," from intellegere "to understand" (see intelligence). In English, sense of "capable of being understood" first recorded c.1600. Related: Intelligibly.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper