First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
intelligible
adjective in·tel·li·gi·ble \in-ˈte-lə-jə-bəl\
: able to be understood; especially : clear enough to be heard, read, etc.
Full Definition of INTELLIGIBLE
1
: apprehensible by the intellect only
2
: capable of being understood or comprehended <jargon intelligible only to the initiated>
— in·tel·li·gi·bil·i·ty \-ˌte-lə-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
— in·tel·li·gi·ble·ness \-ˈte-lə-jə-bəl-nəs\ noun
— in·tel·li·gi·bly \-blē\ adverb
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Origin of INTELLIGIBLE
Middle English, from Latin intelligibilis, from intelligere
Related to INTELLIGIBLE
- Synonyms
- accessible, apprehensible, coherent, comprehendible, comprehensible, fathomable, graspable, legible, scrutable, understandable
- Antonyms
- incoherent, incomprehensible, inscrutable, insensible
INTELLIGIBILITY Defined for Kids
intelligible
adjective in·tel·li·gi·ble \in-ˈte-lə-jə-bəl\
Definition of INTELLIGIBLE for Kids
: possible to understand <Her message was barely intelligible.>
— in·tel·li·gi·bly \-blē\ adverb
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