Intelligence Quotient (I.Q.)

intelligence, n.

(ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns)

Also 5–6 -ens.

[a. F. intelligence (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. intelleg-, intelligentia understanding, from intellegent-em intelligent: see -ence.]

1.1 The faculty of understanding; intellect.

2.2 Understanding as a quality of admitting of degree; spec. superior understanding; quickness of mental apprehension, sagacity. (Said also in reference to animals.)

3. a.3.a The action or fact of mentally apprehending something; understanding, knowledge, cognizance, comprehension (of something). Now rare or Obs.

†b.3.b ? A branch of knowledge, department of science. Obs.

4. a.4.a An impersonation of intelligence; an intelligent or rational being; esp. applied to one that is or may be incorporeal; a spirit.

b.4.b An embodiment of intelligence; a person of superior intellect. rare.

5. a.5.a Interchange of knowledge, information, or sentiment; mutual conveyance of information; communication, intercourse. Now rare or Obs.

†b.5.b esp. applied to the communication of spies, secret or private agents, etc. Obs.

†6.6 A relation or footing of intercourse between persons or parties; a good (or other) understanding between or with. Obs.

7. a.7.a Knowledge as to events, communicated by or obtained from another; information, news, tidings; spec. information of military value.

†b.7.b pl. A piece of information or news. Obs.

c.7.c The obtaining of information; the agency for obtaining secret information; the staff of persons so employed, secret service. Cf. intelligencer.

d.7.d Comb. (sense 7 c) intelligence agency, intelligence corps, intelligence officer, intelligence operator, intelligence service; intelligence department, a department of a state organization or of a military or naval service whose object is to obtain information (esp. by means of secret service officers or a system of spies); Intelligence Office (U.S.), ‘an office or place where information may be obtained, particularly respecting servants’ (Webster, 1864).

8.8 attrib. and Comb., as intelligence quotient [ad. G. intelligenz-quotient (W. L. Stern, 1912)], a number arrived at by means of intelligence tests and intended to express the degree of intelligence of an individual in relation to the average for the age-group, which is fixed at 100; abbrev. I.Q. (I. III); so intelligence test, tester, testing.

intelligence, n.

(ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns)

Also 5–6 -ens.

[a. F. intelligence (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. intelleg-, intelligentia understanding, from intellegent-em intelligent: see -ence.]

1.1 The faculty of understanding; intellect.

2.2 Understanding as a quality of admitting of degree; spec. superior understanding; quickness of mental apprehension, sagacity. (Said also in reference to animals.)

3. a.3.a The action or fact of mentally apprehending something; understanding, knowledge, cognizance, comprehension (of something). Now rare or Obs.

†b.3.b ? A branch of knowledge, department of science. Obs.

4. a.4.a An impersonation of intelligence; an intelligent or rational being; esp. applied to one that is or may be incorporeal; a spirit.

b.4.b An embodiment of intelligence; a person of superior intellect. rare.

5. a.5.a Interchange of knowledge, information, or sentiment; mutual conveyance of information; communication, intercourse. Now rare or Obs.

†b.5.b esp. applied to the communication of spies, secret or private agents, etc. Obs.

†6.6 A relation or footing of intercourse between persons or parties; a good (or other) understanding between or with. Obs.

7. a.7.a Knowledge as to events, communicated by or obtained from another; information, news, tidings; spec. information of military value.

†b.7.b pl. A piece of information or news. Obs.

c.7.c The obtaining of information; the agency for obtaining secret information; the staff of persons so employed, secret service. Cf. intelligencer.

d.7.d Comb. (sense 7 c) intelligence agency, intelligence corps, intelligence officer, intelligence operator, intelligence service; intelligence department, a department of a state organization or of a military or naval service whose object is to obtain information (esp. by means of secret service officers or a system of spies); Intelligence Office (U.S.), ‘an office or place where information may be obtained, particularly respecting servants’ (Webster, 1864).

8.8 attrib. and Comb., as intelligence quotient [ad. G. intelligenz-quotient (W. L. Stern, 1912)], a number arrived at by means of intelligence tests and intended to express the degree of intelligence of an individual in relation to the average for the age-group, which is fixed at 100; abbrev. I.Q. (I. III); so intelligence test, tester, testing.