Does anyone have an idea of when the word "intelligence" was first used, in the context of espionage? Was it used in this context in (for instance) the 18th century?
1 Answer
According to Etymonline, the usage seems to pre-date the 1580s (assuming the agent noun came after the mass noun with the corresponding sense):
intelligencer (n.)
1580s, "spy, informant," agent noun from intelligence.
Meaning "bringer of news" is from 1630s; as a newspaper name from 1640s.
Indeed, Etymonline actually gives the 1580s as the time the 'military intelligence' sense originated. I'd assumed it didn't, as this now becomes general reference.
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1I can only read carefully after you write carefully, Edwin. You changed your answer after I made my comment (which, I suppose, is a good thing: that's what comments on answers are supposed to encourage you to do!).– Dan BronMay 2, 2015 at 20:23
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I added the parenthetical explanation for those not making the possible deduction '... the agent noun came after the mass noun with the corresponding sense' (which is an assumption, but I believe a fair one). I'd assumed that OP had checked Etymonline for 'intelligence'. Wrongly. May 2, 2015 at 20:28
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