Word: intrinsic (adjective)

Associations

The word "intrinsic" means something that belongs naturally to a person or thing, something that is an essential part of it. It is used to describe qualities or features that are built-in or inherent, not added or external.

• Example 1: "Curiosity is intrinsic to human nature." This means curiosity is a natural and essential part of being human.
• Example 2: "The intrinsic value of gold is its rarity and beauty." Here, intrinsic value means the value that gold has naturally, not because of market price.
• Example 3: "She has intrinsic motivation to learn." This means her motivation comes from inside herself, not from rewards or pressure.

Synonym: "inherent" is very close in meaning. The difference is that "intrinsic" often emphasizes something as a natural, essential part inside something, while "inherent" means existing as a permanent, inseparable quality. They are often used interchangeably, but "intrinsic" can feel more about the core nature.

Substitution

You can replace "intrinsic" with:

• inherent (similar meaning, often interchangeable)
• innate (if talking about qualities present from birth)
• essential (if focusing on something very important or necessary) Changing the word can slightly change the tone. For example, "innate" is more about natural birth qualities, while "essential" focuses on importance.

Deconstruction

The word "intrinsic" comes from Latin:

• "in-" means "within"
• "trinsic" comes from "intrinsecus," meaning "inward" or "inside" So, "intrinsic" literally means "from inside," which helps remember it means something natural or built-in.

Inquiry

• Can you think of something about yourself that is intrinsic, something that is a natural part of who you are?
• How would you explain the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation (motivation from outside)?
• Can you find examples in nature where something has intrinsic value?