intelligence
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,907 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 9,403 times across 139,755 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
- a unit responsible for gathering and interpreting information about an enemy also: intelligence service, intelligence agency
- secret information about an enemy (or potential enemy) also: intelligence information we sent out planes to gather intelligence on their radar coverage
- information about recent and important events also: news, tidings, word they awaited news of the outcome
- the operation of gathering information about an enemy also: intelligence activity, intelligence operation
intelligence in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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I have always dressed with the most perfect intelligence.
The Bow of Orange Ribbon · Amelia E. Barr · Chapter 1
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Suitably dressed, he seemed timid and awkward, reserved, quite diffident, and of mediocre intelligence.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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She wrote a fine, dashing hand, and had a matter-of-fact intelligence and knowledge of things.
Emily Fox-Seton · Frances Hodgson Burnett · Chapter 1
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The first point is to select an item of intelligence about which few people care to hear.
Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 · Various · Chapter 1
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The intelligence being communicated to the king, he ordered the Dukes of Suffolk and Norfolk to bring him into his presence.
Windsor Castle · William Harrison Ainsworth · Chapter 1