Intelligents

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The collective group of individuals possessing high intellectual abilities and knowledge within a society
2. A term indicating a category of people characterized by their cognitive prowess and proficiency in understanding complex concepts
3. Referring to those who are educated and insightful, typically playing influential roles in intellectual discussions and cultural advancements

Etymology: This term traces its roots to the 19th century, emerging from the Russian word "intelligentsiya," which referred to a social class of educated individuals engaged in intellectual and cultural activities. The Russian term itself was derived from the Latin "intelligentia," meaning "understanding" or "intelligence," which comes from "intelligere," to understand or perceive. The shift from a general concept of intelligence to a specific social category is tied to the historical context of Tsarist Russia, where a distinct group of thinkers, artists, and professionals formed a recognizable stratum influencing society and politics. Western languages adopted the Russian term, adapting it into forms like "intelligents" or "intelligentsia" to denote this educated elite. Unlike the more abstract notion of intelligence, this noun came to signify not just mental capacity but a collective identity defined by education, cultural engagement, and often political awareness or activism. Its English usage typically references intellectuals as a group, especially in discussions about social classes or revolutionary movements. The suffix "-ents" here reflects a pluralization influenced by the Russian original rather than standard English plural forms. The term thus encapsulates both a linguistic borrowing and a cultural concept that traveled from Russian society into broader European and English discourse in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Synonyms: intellectuals, thinkers, scholars, academics, cognoscenti

Antonyms: ignorants, illiterates, uneducated, dunces, fools