introspective

English

Etymology

• intro "inward, within" (see intro-) + specere "look at" (from PIE root *spek- "to observe")

Pronunciation

• (UK, US, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˌɪntɹəˈspɛktɪv/

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˌɪntɹəˈspektɪv/
• Rhymes: -ɛktɪv

Adjective

introspective (comparative more introspective, superlative most introspective)

1. Examining one's own perceptions and sensory experiences; contemplative or thoughtful about oneself.
   • 1908, G[ilbert] K[eith] Chesterton, The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare, Bristol: J[ames] W[illiams] Arrowsmith, […]; London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Company, →OCLC, page 264:

     All of a sudden Syme, who was standing as if blind with introspective thought, swung round and cried out, like a man waking from sleep—

Derived terms

• introspective sort

Related terms

• introspect
• introspectability
• introspectibility
• introspection
• introspectional
• introspectively
• introspectiveness
• introspectivity

 

Translations

examining one's own perceptions and sensory experiences

• Catalan: introspectiu
• Czech: introspektivní
• Finnish: introspektiivinen, itseään havainnoiva
• French: introspectif (fr)
• German: introspektiv (de), selbstbeobachtend
• Hungarian: introspektív (hu)
• Portuguese: introspectivo
• Romanian: introspectiv (ro)
• Spanish: introspectivo (es)

References

• “introspective”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “introspective”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛ̃.tʁɔs.pɛk.tiv/
• Homophone: introspectives

Adjective

introspective

1. feminine singular of introspectif