Intrinsic

English

Adjective

Intrinsic (comparative more Intrinsic, superlative most Intrinsic)

1. innate, inherent, inseparable from the thing itself, essential
2. (of a body part, relating to anatomy) comprising, being part of a whole

Antonyms

• extrinsic

Derived terms

• intrinsic value
• intrinsic motivation
• intrinsic function
• intrinsic semiconductor

Related terms

• intrinsicality

Thesaurus

actual, appropriate, basic, central, characteristic, congenital, connate, constitutional, deep, deep-seated, distinctive, distinguished, elemental, esoteric, essential, fundamental, genuine, hereditary, idiocratic, idiosyncratic, immanent, implanted, implicit, in character, inalienable, inborn, inbred, indoor, indwelling, infixed, ingrained, inherent, inherited, inmost, innate, inner, innermost, inside, interior, internal, intestine, intimate, inward, inwrought, irreducible, marked, native, natural, organic, peculiar, private, proper, quintessential, real, resident, secret, single, singular, subjective, true, true to form, unalienable, unchallengeable, underlying, unique, unquestionable

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪn.ˈtrɪn.zɪk/

Etymology

< Latin intrinsecus (“on the inside, inwardly”) < *intrim, an assumed adverbial form of inter (“within”) + seccus (“by, on the side”)

Translations

inherent

Croatian: intrìnzičan (hr), svòjstven (hr), prìrođen (hr) Danish: indre, egentlig Dutch: intrinsiek (nl) Finnish: olennainen (fi), luontainen (fi) French: intrinsèque (fr)

German: intrinsisch (de) Italian: intrinseco (it) m., intrinseca (it) f. Polish: wewnętrzny, rzeczywisty Russian: присущий (ru), свойственный (ru), имманентный (ru) Spanish: intrínseco (es) Swedish: inneboende

comprising, being part of a whole

Russian: составляющий (ru)

External links

• Intrinsic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• Intrinsic in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911