Where does “intelligence” come from?
intelligence (Middle English) comes from Old French intelligence, from Latin intelligentia, from Latin intelligēns, from Latin intellegō, from Latin legō, from Latin lēx, from Proto-Italic lēg-, from Proto-Indo-European leǵ-s — to gather, collect, with derivatives meaning to...
intelligence (Middle English): Comprehension, intelligence; the ability to understand
Definitions
- Comprehension, intelligence; the ability to understand
Ancestry of “intelligence”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | intelligence | comprehension; meaning; ability to comprehend |
| 2 | Latin | intelligentia | Alternative form of intellegentia |
| 3 | Latin | intelligēns | — |
| 4 | Latin | intellegō | to understand, comprehend, realize, come to know |
| 5 | Latin | legō | to collect, gather, bring together, catch |
| 6 | Latin | lēx | a proposition or motion for a law made to the people by a magistrate, a bill |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | lēg- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | leǵ-s | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | leǵ- | to gather, collect, with derivatives meaning to... |