Concipient

/kənˈsɪpiənt/ adjective

Definition

Capable of conceiving, understanding, or grasping; able to comprehend or form ideas.

Etymology

From Latin 'concipiens,' present participle of 'concipere' meaning 'to conceive together' or 'to take in,' with the '-ent' suffix denoting an agent or one who performs the action.

Kelly Says

In medieval theology and philosophy, scholars distinguished between 'concipient' minds (capable of understanding) and lesser forms of consciousness—it was a precise way to discuss degrees of intellectual capacity.

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