Etymology
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apperception (n.)

1753, "self-consciousness," from French aperception (17c.), from Latin apperceptionem, from ad "to" (see ad-) + perceptionem (nominative perceptio) "perception, apprehension, a taking," noun of action from past-participle stem of percipere "to perceive" (see perceive).

The meaning "act of the mind by which it becomes conscious of its ideas as its own (1876) is from German Apperzeption, coined by mathematician and philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) as noun corresponding to French apercevoir "perceive, notice, become aware of" on analogy of Perzeption/percevoir.

updated on September 23, 2022

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