Intellect

[meadow-foreigner]

This word has been floating through my mind for a little while now. I don't really know exactly what it means. The definition on webster feels like an utter dud to me:

intellect: /ˈin(t)lˌekt/ (noun):
the faculty of reasoning and understanding objectively, especially with regard to abstract or academic matters.

or the wiki definition: In the study of the human mind, intellect refers to and identifies the ability of the mind to reach correct conclusions about what is true and what is false, and about how to solve problems

these definitions don't resonate with me at all....... what does it mean to "understand" something objectively? what are "correct conclusions about what is true and false?"

anyways, sometimes when I'm contemplating these things, I like to look up the etymology of the word, so I did that for this one:

Intellect: "the sum of the cognitive facilities (except sense or sense and imagination), the capacity for reasoning truth," late 14c. (but little used before 16c.), from Old French intellect "intellectual capacity" (13c.), and directly from Latin intellectus "discernment, a perception, understanding," noun use of past participle of intelligere "to understand, discern"

so according to the etymology of this word...... intellect is related to both understanding AND discernment? woo, that's got me stumped! i just don't see where intellect fits into that equation..... what the hell is it??

I would love to hear y'alls thoughts on the matter........ thanks  

A Mind that knows what and how to create (theory), and applies it (practice): that may be considered Intellect.