INTELLIGENCE

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin intelligentia, from intelligent-, intelligens intelligent Date: 14th century 1. a. the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations ; reason , the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (as tests), the basic eternal quality of divine Mind, mental acuteness ; shrewdness, 2. an intelligent entity, intelligent minds or mind , the act of understanding ; comprehension , 4. information , news , information concerning an enemy or possible enemy or an area, the ability to perform computer functions