intelligible

If something is intelligible, it is easy to understand. A mumbled whisper might not be intelligible, but a clearly spoken sentence usually is. If you can get the message without much effort, it is intelligible. Sometimes a difficult idea needs to be explained before it becomes intelligible to someone new to the subject. A detective trying to decode a message hopes to make it intelligible through careful work.

The word "intelligible" describes something that is capable of being understood. It goes beyond simply hearing or seeing—it means the information presented makes sense and can be grasped by someone's mind. Imagine a teacher explaining a difficult concept; they strive to make their explanation intelligible to all students.

Intelligibility isn't just about clarity of speech, though that's often where we encounter it. A handwritten note with messy penmanship might be legible (you can read the letters), but not necessarily intelligible if the ideas are rambling and disorganized. Similarly, a complex computer program's code may be perfectly written, but unintelligible to someone who doesn't understand programming languages.

Historically, "intelligible" comes from the Latin word intellegere, meaning "to understand." It implies that something has been presented in a way that allows for comprehension. A witness statement given to police needs to be intelligible—clear and coherent enough to be accurately recorded and understood by investigators.

So, if you can follow an argument, decipher a message, or grasp the meaning of something without confusion, it's likely intelligible. It's about more than just being able to perceive; it's about being able to understand what is perceived.