intrinsic

Alternative forms

• intrinsick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle French intrinsèque, from Latin intrīnsecus (“on the inside, inwardly”), from *intrim, an assumed adverbial form of inter (“within”) + secus (“by, on the side”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪn.ˈtɹɪn.zɪk/

Adjective

intrinsic (comparative more intrinsic, superlative most intrinsic)

1. Innate, inherent, inseparable from the thing itself, essential.

   Synonyms: essential, inherent, innate, proper to

   Antonym: extrinsic

   the intrinsic value of gold or silver

   the intrinsic merit of an action

   • I. Taylor

     He was better qualified than they to estimate justly the intrinsic value of Grecian philosophy and refinement.

2. (anatomy, of a body part) Situated, produced, secreted in, or coming from inside an organ, tissue, muscle or member.

Noun

intrinsic (plural intrinsics)

1. (computing, programming) A built-in function that is implemented directly by the compiler, without any intermediate call to a library.
2. (video games) An ability possessed by a character and not requiring any external equipment.

   You can acquire the fire-resistance intrinsic by eating dragon meat.

Anagrams

• citrinins