intelligent

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree

   is there intelligent life in the universe?

2. 2
   adj

   Of high or especially quick cognitive capacity, bright.

   Anstruther laughed good-naturedly. “[…] I shall take out half a dozen intelligent maistries from our Press and get them to give our villagers instruction when they begin work and when they are in the fields.”

3. 3
   adj

   Well thought-out, well considered.

   The engineer had a very intelligent design proposal for the new car.

4. 4
   adj

   Characterized by thoughtful interaction.

   My girlfriend and I had an intelligent conversation.

5. 5
   adj

   Having at least a similar level of brain power to humankind.

   The hunt for extraterrestrial intelligent life continues.

6. 6
   adj

   Having an environment-sensing automatically-invoked built-in computer capability.

   an intelligent network or keyboard

7. 7
   noun

   A member of the intelligentsia; an intelligent person.

   Now, as all intelligents are doomed to pass probationary states, it is highly probable that many intelligents, long antecedent to the foundation of our world, may have tarnished their innocence; or worse, many may have by disobedience fallen.

8. 8
   adj

   endowed with the capacity to reason

Etymology

From Middle French intelligent, from Latin intellegēns (“discerning”), present active participle of intellegō (“understand, comprehend”), itself from inter (“between”) + legō (“choose, pick out, read”).