intelligible

[in-tel-i-juh-buhl]

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adjective

capable of being understood; comprehensible; clear: an intelligible response.
Philosophy. apprehensible by the mind only; conceptual.

Origin of intelligible

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin intelligibilis, equivalent to intellig- (see intelligent) + -ibilis -ible

Related formsin·tel·li·gi·ble·ness, nounin·tel·li·gi·bly, adverbhalf-in·tel·li·gi·ble, adjectivehalf-in·tel·li·gi·bly, adverbself-in·tel·li·gi·ble, adjectivesem·i-in·tel·li·gi·ble, adjectivesem·i-in·tel·li·gi·bly, adverb

Can be confusedintelligent intelligible intellectual (see synonym study at intelligent)

Synonyms for intelligible

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1. distinct, lucid, coherent.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for intelligible

comprehensible, clear, distinct, knowable, lucid, luminous, obvious, open, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable, fathomable, apprehensible, graspable

Examples from the Web for intelligible

Contemporary Examples of intelligible

Koon: His arms were at his side and the first words that were intelligible that I heard him audible at that time.
L.A. Riots Anniversary: Stacey Koon’s Disturbing Testimony
Christine Pelisek
April 28, 2012

Historical Examples of intelligible

The generous "twinge of pain," to which she confesses, was intelligible.
De Libris: Prose and Verse
Austin 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 Dorrit
Charles Dickens
He would find it noisy and tedious, even if it were intelligible.
Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 13, June 25, 1870
Various
You will therefore find it intelligible that reasonable men cannot break our laws.
Freeland
Theodor Hertzka

British Dictionary definitions for intelligible

intelligible

adjective

able to be understood; comprehensible
philosophy
1. capable of being apprehended by the mind or intellect alone
2. (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

Derived Formsintelligibility or intelligibleness, nounintelligibly, adverb

Word Origin for intelligible

C14: from Latin intellegibilis; see intellect

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.