intelligence

A2 Topic:Mind & Cognition

US /ɪnˈtɛl.ɪ.d͡ʒəns/ See IPA manual

Freq #2311

Meanings

1

noun
The ability to learn, understand, and think clearly.

Dolphins are known for their high intelligence.
2

noun
Secret information collected about an enemy or rival, or the activity of gathering it.

The spy passed military intelligence to his country.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the ability to learn,... intellect brightness wit

2 noun · secret information... intelligence information

More brain brains cleverness head judgment mind nous psyche reason smartness

Opposites

blockheadednessboneheadednessdenseness density dimnessdimwittednessdolterydullnessdullwittednessdumbnessdumminessduncedom

Word family

Derived forms anti-intelligenceciaco-intelligencecounter-intelligencecounterintelligencecyberintelligenceelintextelligencehuminthyperintelligenceintelintelligence-gathering

Related forms genius idiot intellectual intelligent stupidweak-mindedwisdom witty

Etymology

From Middle English intelligence, from Old French intelligence, from Latin intelligentia, which is from inter- (“between”) + legere (“to choose, pick out, read”), from Proto-Italic *legō (“to care”). Doublet of intelligentsia.

intelligence Middle English intelligentia Latin *legō Proto-Italic *leǵ- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

External links

# intelligence

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈtɛl.ɪ.d͡ʒəns/
**Frequency rank:** 2311

## Meanings
1. The ability to learn, understand, and think clearly.
2. Secret information collected about an enemy or rival, or the activity of gathering it.

## Examples
- Dolphins are known for their high intelligence.
- The spy passed military intelligence to his country.

## Synonyms
- brain
- brains
- brightness
- cleverness
- head
- intellect
- judgment
- mind
- nous
- psyche
- reason
- smartness

## Antonyms
- blockheadedness
- boneheadedness
- denseness
- density
- dimness
- dimwittedness
- doltery
- dullness
- dullwittedness
- dumbness
- dumminess
- duncedom

## Derived Forms
- anti-intelligence
- cia
- co-intelligence
- counter-intelligence
- counterintelligence
- cyberintelligence
- elint
- extelligence
- humint
- hyperintelligence
- intel
- intelligence-gathering

## Related Forms
- genius
- idiot
- intellectual
- intelligent
- stupid
- weak-minded
- wisdom
- witty

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: intelligence
- Root: intelligentia
- Root: *legō
- Root: *leǵ-
- Affix: -ence - state

## Etymology
From Middle English intelligence, from Old French intelligence, from Latin intelligentia, which is from inter- (“between”) + legere (“to choose, pick out, read”), from Proto-Italic *legō (“to care”). Doublet of intelligentsia.

## AI Etymology
Intelligence comes from Middle English intelligence, from Old French intelligence, from Latin intelligentia, which is from inter- (“between”) + legere (“to choose, pick out, read”), from Proto-Italic *legō (“to care”). Doublet of intelligentsia. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix. The historical line also includes *leǵ-.

## Topics
- Mind & Cognition

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intelligence

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