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DictionaryRoot: -alis
Latin

-alis

of, relating to

Forms

  • -alis
  • -aris — Latin variant especially used when the stem already contained l, avoiding a repeated l sound.
  • -al — English ending borrowed through French or directly from Latin.
  • -ar — English ending continuing Latin -aris.

Origin

An older Latin adjective-forming suffix; its more remote ancestry is uncertain.

Note

Expresses a relationship without specifying its kind: material, place, purpose, and other connections are possible.

39 / 291
adjective

conceptual

kuhn-SEP-choo-uhl/kənˈseptʃuəl/

Relating to ideas rather than practical details.

She studies the conceptual relationships among the shapes.

Woman thinks using simple connected circle/square/triangle relationships on blank board, concrete wooden blocks below set aside; focus abstract relationships, functional shapes only, no written words.
Etymology
conLatintogether, with; sometimes thoroughly
+ceptLatintake, hold, seize
+ualLatinof, relating to

“Taking in” developed into taking something into the mind and forming a notion; the prefix may be intensive. Conceptual describes this mental realm of ideas rather than the physical act of taking or holding.

In context

The Art Assignment1:47
In conceptual art the idea or concept is the most important aspect of the work.
The Case for Conceptual Art

More examples

  • They settled the conceptual framework before choosing materials.
  • The course emphasized conceptual understanding over memorization.
  • A conceptual diagram showed how the parts related.

Forms

conceptual

concept noun — an idea or mental category

Similar words

theoretical
Theoretical concerns a theory or untested account; conceptual concerns the underlying ideas or categories.
practical
Practical concerns implementation; conceptual concerns the idea and structure behind it.