Hypertext Webster Gateway: "intrinsic"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Intrinsic \In*trin"sic\ ([i^]n*tr[i^]n"s[i^]k), a. [L.
intrinsecus inward, on the inside; intra within + secus
otherwise, beside; akin to E. second: cf. F. intrins[`e]que.
See {Inter-}, {Second}, and cf. {Extrinsic}.]
1. Inward; internal; hence, true; genuine; real; essential;
inherent; not merely apparent or accidental; -- opposed to
{extrinsic}; as, the intrinsic value of gold or silver;
the intrinsic merit of an action; the intrinsic worth or
goodness of a person.
He was better qualified than they to estimate justly
the intrinsic value of Grecian philosophy and
refinement. --I. Taylor.
2. (Anat.) Included wholly within an organ or limb, as
certain groups of muscles; -- opposed to {extrinsic}.
{Intrinsic energy of a body} (Physics), the work it can do in
virtue of its actual condition, without any supply of
energy from without.
{Intrinsic equation of a curve} (Geom.), the equation which
expresses the relation which the length of a curve,
measured from a given point of it, to a movable point, has
to the angle which the tangent to the curve at the movable
point makes with a fixed line.
{Intrinsic value}. See the Note under {Value}, n.
Syn: Inherent; innate; natural; real; genuine.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Intrinsic \In*trin"sic\, n.
A genuine quality. [Obs.] --Warburton.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
intrinsic
adj 1: belonging to a thing by its very nature; "form was treated
as something intrinsic, as the very essence of the
thing"- John Dewey [syn: {intrinsical}] [ant: {extrinsic}]
2: (anatomy) situated within or belonging solely to the organ
or body part on which it acts; "intrinsic muscles"
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