intangible (adj.)

1630s, "incapable of being touched," from French intangible (c. 1500) or directly from Medieval Latin intangibilis, from in- "not" (see in- (1)) + Late Latin tangibilis "that may be touched" (see tangible). Figurative sense of "that cannot be grasped by the mind" is from 1880. Noun meaning "anything intangible" is from 1909. Related: Intangibly.

Entries linking to intangible

in- (1)

word-forming element meaning "not, opposite of, without" (also im-, il-, ir- by assimilation of -n- with following consonant, a tendency which began in later Latin), from Latin in- "not," cognate with Greek an-, Old English un-, all from PIE root *ne- "not."

In Old French and Middle English often en-, but most of these forms have not survived in Modern English, and the few that do (enemy, for instance) no longer are felt as negative. The rule of thumb in English has been to use in- with obviously Latin elements, un- with native or nativized ones.

tangible (adj.)

1580s, "capable of being touched," from French tangible and directly from Late Latin tangibilis "that may be touched," from Latin tangere "to touch," from PIE root *tag- "to touch, handle." Sense of "material" (as in tangible reward) is first recorded 1610s; that of "able to be realized or dealt with" is from 1709. Related: Tangibly.

Others are reading

Share intangible

‘cite’

Page URL:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/intangible

HTML Link:

<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/intangible">Etymology of intangible by etymonline</a>

APA style:

Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of intangible. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/intangible

Chicago style:

Harper Douglas, “Etymology of intangible,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/intangible.

MLA style:

Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of intangible.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/intangible. Accessed $(datetimeMla).

IEEE style:

D. Harper. “Etymology of intangible.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/intangible (accessed $(datetime)).

Definitions of intangible

intangible (adj.)

(of especially business assets) not having physical substance or intrinsic productive value;

intangible assets such as good will

intangible (adj.)

incapable of being perceived by the senses especially the sense of touch; "the intangible constituent of energy"- James Jeans;

Synonyms: impalpable

intangible (adj.)

hard to pin down or identify;

an intangible feeling of impending disaster

intangible (adj.)

lacking substance or reality; incapable of being touched or seen;

that intangible thing--the soul

Synonyms: nonphysical

intangible (n.)

assets that are saleable though not material or physical;

Synonyms: intangible asset

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near intangible

insusceptible

intact

intaglio

intail

intake

intangible

integer

integral

integrate

integrated

integration