Both Uses of
inherent
in
The Da Vinci Code
- The mysterious magic inherent in the Divine Proportion was written at the beginning of time.†
Chpt 19-20 *
- Unfortunately, the inherent humor in the situation was overshadowed by the taxi dispatcher repeatedly hailing their cab over the radio.†
Chpt 39-40
Definition:
-
(inherent) existing as an inseparable part or characteristiceditor's notes: Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice):
Less-common, but more specific synonyms include "innate" and "intrinsic."
You might choose "innate" when referring to a living entity's inherent characteristic since birth (e.g., an innate intelligence) or to a characteristic that is not obvious at first glance (e.g., "Government has an innate tendency to grow.")
You might choose "intrinsic" when referring to an inherent characteristic upon which other characteristics depend (e.g., "Steel beams were intrinsic to the design.")