Intention
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ɪnˈtɛnʃən/
Alternative forms
- entention obsolete
Origin
From Middle French intention, from Old French entencion, from Latin intentio.
Full definition of intention
Noun
intention
(plural intentions)- 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)Hell is paved with good intentions.
- 1935, George Goodchild, Death on the Centre Court Chapter 3, 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. …â€
- The goal or purpose behind a specific action or set of actions.The intention of this legislation is to boost the economy.
- (obsolete) Tension; straining, stretching.
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, I.iii.3:cold in those inner parts, cold belly, and hot liver, causeth crudity, and intention proceeds from perturbations....
- A stretching or bending of the mind toward 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.
- (obsolete) The object toward which the thoughts are directed; end; aim.
- 1732, John Arbuthnot, An Essay Concerning the Nature of Ailments …, Prop. II, p.159In a Word, the most part of chronical Distempers proceed from Laxity of Fibres; in which Case the principal Intention is to restore the Tone of the solid Parts;....
- (obsolete) Any mental apprehension of an object.