from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Intelligence \In*tel"li*gence\, n. [F. intelligence, L.
intelligentia, intellegentia. See {Intelligent}.]
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1. The act or state of knowing; the exercise of the
understanding.
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2. The capacity to know or understand; readiness of
comprehension; the intellect, as a gift or an endowment.
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And dimmed with darkness their intelligence.
--Spenser.
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3. Information communicated; news; notice; advice.
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Intelligence is given where you are hid. --Shak.
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4. Acquaintance; intercourse; familiarity. [Obs.]
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He lived rather in a fair intelligence than any
friendship with the favorites. --Clarendon.
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5. Knowledge imparted or acquired, whether by study,
research, or experience; general information.
Specifically; (Mil.) Information about an enemy or
potential enemy, his capacities, and intentions.
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I write as he that none intelligence
Of meters hath, ne flowers of sentence. --Court of
Love.
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6. An intelligent being or spirit; -- generally applied to
pure spirits; as, a created intelligence. --Milton.
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The great Intelligences fair
That range above our mortal state,
In circle round the blessed gate,
Received and gave him welcome there. --Tennyson.
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7. (Mil.) The division within a military organization that
gathers and evaluates information about an enemy.
[PJC]
{Intelligence office}, an office where information may be
obtained, particularly respecting servants to be hired.
Syn: Understanding; intellect; instruction; advice; notice;
notification; news; information; report.
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