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Webster 1913 Edition

Intention

In-ten′tion

,
Noun.
[F.
intention
, L.
intentio
. See
Intend
, and cf.
Intension
.]
1.
A stretching or bending of the mind toward an object; closeness of application; fixedness of attention; earnestness.
Intention
is when the mind, with great earnestness, and of choice, fixes its view on any idea.
Locke.
2.
A determination to act in a certain way or to do a certain thing; purpose; design;
as, an
intention
to go to New York
.
Hell is paved with good
intentions
.
Johnson.
3.
The object toward which the thoughts are directed; end; aim.
In [chronical distempers], the principal
intention
is to restore the tone of the solid parts.
Arbuthnot.
4.
The state of being strained. See
Intension
.
[Obs.]
5.
(Logic)
Any mental apprehension of an object.
Syn. – Design; purpose; object; aim; intent; drift; purport; meaning. See
Design
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Intention

INTEN'TION

,
Noun.
[L. intentio. See Intend.]
1.
Primarily, a stretching or bending of the mind towards an object; hence, uncommon exertion of the intellectual faculties; closeness of application; fixedness of attention; earnestness.
Intention is when the mind, with great earnestness and of choice, fixes its view on any idea, considers it on every side, and will not be called off by the ordinary solicitation of other ideas.
2.
Design; purpose; the fixed direction of the mind to a particular object, or a determination to act in a particular manner. It is my intention to proceed to Paris.
3.
End or aim; the object to be accomplished.
In chronical distempers,the principal intention is to restore the tone of the solid parts.
4.
The state of being strained. [See Intension.]

Definition 2024

Intention

Intention

See also: intention

German

Noun

Intention f ‎(genitive Intention, plural Intentionen)

  1. intention

Declension

intention

intention

See also: Intention

English

Alternative forms

Noun

intention ‎(plural intentions)

  1. A course of action that a person intends to follow.
    My intention was to marry a wealthy widow.‎
    • Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) (but see Apocryhpha)
      **** is paved with good intentions.
    • 1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, OCLC 29686887 , chapter IV:
      “My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. ¶ Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. ¶ “Quite so,” he said as dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were known your life would not be worth a curse.”
    • 1935, George Goodchild, chapter 3, in Death on the Centre Court:
      It had been his intention to go to Wimbledon, but as he himself said: “Why be blooming well frizzled when you can hear all the results over the wireless. And results are all that concern me. […]”
  2. The goal or purpose behind a specific action or set of actions.
    The intention of this legislation is to boost the economy.‎
  3. (obsolete) Tension; straining, stretching.
  4. A stretching or bending of the mind toward an object; closeness of application; fixedness of attention; earnestness.
    • John Locke (1632-1705)
      Intention is when the mind, with great earnestness, and of choice, fixes its view on any idea.
  5. (obsolete) The object toward which the thoughts are directed; end; aim.
  6. (obsolete) Any mental apprehension of an object.
  7. (medicine) The process of the healing of a wound.
    • 2007, Carie Ann Braun, ‎Cindy Miller Anderson, Pathophysiology: Functional Alterations in Human Health, p.49:
      When healing occurs by primary intention, the wound is basically closed with all areas of the wound connecting and healing simultaneously.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Finnish

Noun

intention

  1. Genitive singular form of intentio.

French

Etymology

Old French entencion < Latin intentiō. Respelled intention in Middle French to more closely match the Classical Latin form.

Pronunciation

Noun

intention f ‎(plural intentions)

  1. intention
    dans l'intention de devenir roi
    with the intention of becoming king

Middle French

Noun

intention f (plural intentions)

  1. Alternative form of entention

Etymology

From Latin intentio

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