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in·tel·li·gence

(ĭn-tĕlə-jəns)

1. The ability to acquire, understand, and use knowledge: a person of extraordinary intelligence.

a. Information, especially secret information gathered about an actual or potential enemy or adversary.

b. The gathering of such information: "Corporate intelligence relies on a slew of tools, some sophisticated, many quite basic" (Neil King and Jess Bravin).

c. An agency or organization whose purpose is to gather such information: an officer from military intelligence.

3. An intelligent, incorporeal being, especially an angel.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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