nous
nouses
In philosophy, nous is the mind's ability to clearly understand what is true. You might think of nous as reason or intellect.
The exact definition of nous varies, depending on whether you're talking to a philosopher, historian, or religious thinker. In Christianity, the nous is the mind, as distinguished from the soul. You can also think of this as the distinction between thinking and feeling. Classic philosophy defines nous as the part of a person's mind that allows them to think rationally and understand. During the 18th century, nous was briefly popular as college slang for "wit or cleverness."
Definitions of nous
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that which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the faculty of reason
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types:
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noddle
an informal British expression for head or mind
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tabula rasa
a young mind not yet affected by experience (according to John Locke)
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ego
(psychoanalysis) the conscious mind
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unconscious, unconscious mind
that part of the mind wherein psychic activity takes place of which the person is unaware
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subconscious, subconscious mind
psychic activity just below the level of awareness
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common sense“she has great social nous”
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type of:
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common sense, good sense, gumption, horse sense, mother wit, sense
sound practical judgment
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common sense, good sense, gumption, horse sense, mother wit, sense
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘nous'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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