intelligence English · revision 3865

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1390|origins=la intellegere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪnˈtel.ɪ.dʒəns/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|intelligence]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|intelligence]] and directly [[der|la|intelligentia|t=understanding, knowledge, power of discerning]] (also intellegentia),^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966) from intelligēns “discerning”, the present participle of [[m|la|intellegere|t=to understand, comprehend]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|inter|t=between]] and [[m|la|legere|t=to choose, pick out, read]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*leg-|t=to collect, gather]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[intelligent]], [[intellect]] and [[intelligentsia]].^(Klein 1966)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The faculty of understanding: 1390 in the OED;^(OED 1989) Etymonline has the late 14th century, as “the highest faculty of the mind, capacity for comprehending general truths”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Superior understanding, sagacity” is from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A being endowed with understanding, especially an angel or spirit, is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) “Information received or imparted, news” is from the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and especially secret information from spies from the 1580s,^(Etymonline) 1587 in the OED;^(OED 1989) from this came the agencies that gather it, as military intelligence.^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD) A good or bad ''intelligence'' between parties, an understanding, is from 1597–8.^(OED 1989) ''Intelligence quotient'' is recorded by 1921.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1390 – the faculty of understanding.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – an intelligent being.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – superior understanding.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-15th century – news, information.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – secret information from spies.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1921 – ''intelligence quotient''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The capacity to acquire and apply knowledge; [[reason]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Superior powers of mind.^(AHD)

+ # An intelligent being, especially an incorporeal one such as an [[angel]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Information; [[news]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Secret information, especially about an enemy, or the gathering of it.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An agency or staff that gathers such information.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[counterintelligence]]

+ * [[hyperintelligence]]

+ * [[intel]]

+ * [[intelligencer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[intelligent]]

+ * [[intellect]]

+ * [[intelligentsia]]

+ * [[intelligible]]

+ * [[legend]]

+ * [[collect]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}