Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Intelligence \In*tel"li*gence\, n. [F. intelligence, L.
intelligentia, intellegentia. See {Intelligent}.]
1. The act or state of knowing; the exercise of the
understanding.
2. The capacity to know or understand; readiness of
comprehension; the intellect, as a gift or an endowment.
And dimmed with darkness their intelligence.
--Spenser.
3. Information communicated; news; notice; advice.
Intelligence is given where you are hid. --Shak.
4. Acquaintance; intercourse; familiarity. [Obs.]
He lived rather in a fair intelligence than any
friendship with the favorites. --Clarendon.
5. Knowledge imparted or acquired, whether by study,
research, or experience; general information.
I write as he that none intelligence Of meters hath,
ne flowers of sentence. --Court of
Love.
6. An intelligent being or spirit; -- generally applied to
pure spirits; as, a created intelligence. --Milton.
The great Intelligences fair That range above our
mortal state, In circle round the blessed gate,
Received and gave him welcome there. --Tennyson.
{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.
Source : WordNet®
intelligence
n 1: the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from
experience [ant: {stupidity}]
2: a unit responsible for gathering and interpreting
information about an enemy [syn: {intelligence service}, {intelligence
agency}]
3: secret information about an enemy (or potential enemy); "we
sent out planes to gather intelligence on their radar
coverage" [syn: {intelligence information}]
4: new information about specific and timely events; "they
awaited news of the outcome" [syn: {news}, {tidings}, {word}]
5: the operation of gathering information about an enemy [syn:
{intelligence activity}, {intelligence operation}]