In*trin"sic, n. A genuine
quality. [Obs.] Warburton.
In*trin"sic (ĭn*trĭn"sĭk),
a. [L. intrinsecus inward, on the inside;
intra within + secus otherwise, beside; akin to E.
second: cf. F. intrinsèque. See Inter-,
Second, and cf. Extrinsic.]
1. Inward; internal; hence, true; genuine;
real; essential; inherent; not merely apparent or accidental; --
opposed to extrinsic; as, the intrinsic value of gold
or silver; the intrinsic merit of an action; the
intrinsic worth or goodness of a person.
He was better qualified than they to estimate justly
the intrinsic value of Grecian philosophy and
refinement.
I. Taylor.
2. (Anat.) Included wholly within an
organ or limb, as certain groups of muscles; -- opposed to
extrinsic.
Intrinsic energy of a body (Physics),
the work it can do in virtue of its actual condition, without any
supply of energy from without. -- Intrinsic equation of
a curve (Geom.), the equation which expresses
the relation which the length of a curve, measured from a given point
of it, to a movable point, has to the angle which the tangent to the
curve at the movable point makes with a fixed line. --
Intrinsic value. See the Note under
Value, n.
Syn. -- Inherent; innate; natural; real; genuine.