Intact Meaning
Intact Definition & Usage
Not altered, damaged, or affected in any way; remaining in a complete or original state.
Examples
- "The letter arrived intact despite the heavy rain."
- "His reputation remained intact after the scandal."
- "The building, though old, is still intact after the earthquake."
- "She preserved the painting intact, without any restoration needed."
- "The fragile package was delivered intact, with no signs of damage."
Used to describe something that is in good, functional condition, especially in informal or colloquial contexts.
Examples
- "The car is still intact; it runs just like new!"
- "We need to check if the equipment is intact before the presentation."
- "After the storm, the roof was surprisingly intact, considering the conditions."
- "The phone screen looks intact, even though it fell off the table."
- "After the party, everything was still intact, and no one had damaged anything."
Cultural Context
The word 'intact' originates from the Latin word 'intactus,' meaning 'untouched.' It is often used in various contexts where preservation of original condition is valued, such as in art conservation, packaging, and relationships.
The Intact Letter
Story
The Intact Letter
In a quiet village nestled between rolling hills, Emma stood at the doorstep of her family’s old farmhouse, holding a letter in her hand. It was a delicate, yellowed envelope, and she had been waiting for weeks to see if it had survived the journey. It had been sent from her grandfather’s home in the city, a place she hadn’t visited in years. He had promised to send her the final chapter of a family mystery, one that had been kept secret for generations. As Emma opened the envelope, her heart skipped a beat. The letter inside was completely intact. The words were crisp, clear, and untouched by time or wear. She had feared that the long journey would have damaged the fragile paper, but instead, it looked as if it had just been written that morning. The letter was not only physically intact but also revealed a story that had been hidden from her family for decades. It spoke of a long-lost relative, a treasure, and a connection to the family’s mysterious past. Meanwhile, her brother Alex was at the old barn, inspecting their father’s vintage motorcycle. He had spent years restoring it, and despite the many years of neglect, the bike had remained remarkably intact. Not a single part had rusted beyond repair, and it still hummed with the same smooth sound it had when it first left the factory. Alex marveled at the craftsmanship, proud that he had kept it in such pristine condition. Later that evening, the family gathered around the fireplace to discuss the letter. The mystery of their grandfather’s legacy felt intact, too—untouched by time and ready to be solved. Emma smiled, knowing that their family history, much like the motorcycle and the letter, had survived the years unscathed. It was a treasure she would carry with her forever, a reminder that some things, no matter how fragile they seemed, could remain intact through time’s many trials.
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