noncerebral
|non-ce-re-bral|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnˈsɛrɪbrəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnˈsɛrɪbrəl/
not brain / not intellectual
Etymology
'noncerebral' originates from the negative prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' and via Old French) combined with 'cerebral,' which derives from Latin 'cerebrum' meaning 'brain'.
'noncerebral' was formed in English by attaching the prefix 'non-' to 'cerebral.' 'Cerebral' comes from Latin 'cerebrum' > Medieval Latin 'cerebralis' > French 'cérébral' and then into English; the prefix 'non-' entered English from Old French/Latin as a general negative marker.
Initially the element 'cerebral' referred specifically to the brain; 'noncerebral' originally meant 'not of or relating to the brain' (medical). Over time its use was extended figuratively to mean 'not intellectual' or 'not involving intellectual thought.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not relating to the cerebrum or brain; located outside or not involving the brain (medical usage).
The lesion was judged to be noncerebral, affecting the spinal cord rather than the brain.
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Adjective 2
not intellectual or cerebral; not involving deliberate thought—appealing to instinct, sensation, or emotion rather than reason.
The movie's entertainment value was deliberately noncerebral, emphasizing spectacle over ideas.
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Last updated: 2025/10/09 06:44