insight

[in-sahyt] /ˈɪnˌsaɪt/
noun
1.
an instance of apprehending the true nature of a thing, especially through intuitive understanding:
an insight into 18th-century life.
2.
penetrating mental vision or discernment; faculty of seeing into inner character or underlying truth.
3.
Psychology.
  1. an understanding of relationships that sheds light on or helps solve a problem.
  2. (in psychotherapy) the recognition of sources of emotional difficulty.
  3. an understanding of the motivational forces behind one's actions, thoughts, or behavior; self-knowledge.
Origin
1150-1200; Middle English; see in-1, sight
Can be confused
incite, insight (see synonym study at incite)
Synonyms
2. perception, apprehension, intuition, understanding, grasp.
British Dictionary definitions for in sight

insight

/ˈɪnˌsaɪt/
noun
1.
the ability to perceive clearly or deeply; penetration
2.
a penetrating and often sudden understanding, as of a complex situation or problem
3.
(psychol)
  1. the capacity for understanding one's own or another's mental processes
  2. the immediate understanding of the significance of an event or action
4.
(psychiatry) the ability to understand one's own problems, sometimes used to distinguish between psychotic and neurotic disorders
Derived Forms
insightful, adjective
Word Origin and History for in sight

insight

n.

c.1200, innsihht, "sight with the eyes of the mind," mental vision, understanding," from in + sight. Sense shaded into "penetrating understanding into character or hidden nature" (1580s).

in sight in Medicine

insight in·sight (ĭn'sīt')
n.
Understanding, especially an understanding of the motives and reasons behind one's actions.

in'sight·ful (ĭn'sīt'fəl, ĭn-sīt'-) adj.
Idioms and Phrases with in sight

in sight

.
Within one's range of vision, as in The sailboat was still in sight on the horizon. [ c. 1200 ]
.
Also, in one's sight or sights. Before one's eyes; also, within one's awareness. For example, In the world's sight he was at fault, or Harold had that promotion firmly in his sights. [ c. 1200 ]
Encyclopedia Article for in sight

insight

in learning theory, immediate and clear learning or understanding that takes place without overt trial-and-error testing. Insight occurs in human learning when people recognize relationships (or make novel associations between objects or actions) that can help them solve new problems.

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