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Intelligence vs Idiocy - What's the difference?

intelligence | idiocy |

As nouns the difference between intelligence and idiocy

is that intelligence is (uncountable) capacity of mind, especially to understand principles, truths, facts or meanings, acquire knowledge, and apply it to practice; the ability to learn and comprehend while idiocy is (psychology) the state or condition of being an idiot; the quality of having an intelligence level far below average; mental retardation.

intelligence

Noun

  • (uncountable) Capacity of mind, especially to understand principles, truths, facts or meanings, acquire knowledge, and apply it to practice; the ability to learn and comprehend.
  • * 1912 , (Edgar Rice Burroughs), (Tarzan of the Apes), Chapter 5
  • Not so, however, with Tarzan, the man-child. His life amidst the dangers of the jungle had taught him to meet emergencies with self-confidence, and his higher intelligence resulted in a quickness of mental action far beyond the powers of the apes.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-19, author= Ian Sample
  • , volume=189, issue=6, page=34, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Irregular bedtimes may affect children's brains , passage=Irregular bedtimes may disrupt healthy brain development in young children, according to a study of intelligence and sleeping habits.  ¶ Going to bed at a different time each night affected girls more than boys, but both fared worse on mental tasks than children who had a set bedtime, researchers found.}}
  • (countable) An entity that has such capacities.
  • * Tennyson
  • The great Intelligences fair / That range above our mortal state, / In circle round the blessed gate, / Received and gave him welcome there.
  • (uncountable) Information]], usually secret, about the enemy or about hostile [[activity, activities.
  • (countable) A political or military department, agency or unit designed to gather information, usually secret, about the enemy or about hostile activities.
  • (dated) Acquaintance; intercourse; familiarity.
  • * Clarendon
  • He lived rather in a fair intelligence than any friendship with the favourites.

    Synonyms

    * (capacity of mind) wit, intellect, brightness * (entity) see * See also

    Derived terms

    * artificial intelligence * machine intelligence * CIA * IQ * * * SIS

    idiocy

    English

    Alternative forms

    * idiotcy

    Noun

    (idiocies)
  • (psychology) The state or condition of being an idiot; the quality of having an intelligence level far below average; mental retardation.
  • An act lacking intelligence or sense; an instance of senselessness; extremely foolish behaviour.
  • The administrators, growing tired of such idiocy , put a new policy in place.

    Synonyms

    * imbecility * stupidity

    References

    *