ə̇n.ˈtenchən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English entencioun, intencioun, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French entention, intention, from Old French, from Latin intention-, intentio, literally, act of stretching out, from intentus (past participle) + -ion-, -io -ion
1.
a.
(1) : an act of intending : resolve
announced its intention to divide its Indian Empire into two dominions — Current Biography
certainly had no intention of doing so — Rose Macaulay
(2) intentions plural : purpose with respect to marriage
inquired concerning the young man's intentions toward his daughter
(3) : a written or printed statement of intention
filed his intention to run for mayor
b.
(1) : the will to administer a sacrament in the form and spirit prescribed by the Roman Catholic Church
(2) : the will to apply the benefits of a mass or prayers to a particular person or purpose ; also : the person or purpose contemplated
c.
(1) Roman law : the part of a formula in which the plaintiff's claims and the defendant's defenses are stated
(2) old English law : a declaration in a real action
2. : an intended object : aim , end
complete and final victory was his intention
his intention (the intended significance of the poem) … and what he actually contrives as a poet to do, conflict — F.R.Leavis
3. : the import or meaning of something : something that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the understanding : significance
shook his head with a double intention — James Joyce
4.
a. archaic
(1) : strenuous mental application : close attention
(2) : the act or an instance of straining or tensing (as the eye)
b. : a concept or notion ; especially : a concept considered as the product of attention directed to an object of knowledge — see first intention , second intention
5. : a process or manner of healing of incised wounds — see first intention , second intention
Synonyms:
intent , purpose , design , aim , end , object , objective , goal : intention simply indicates what one proposes to do or accomplish
the main intention of the poem has been to make dramatically visible the conflict — Allen Tate
it was Buchanan's intention that his administration should be chiefly characterized by a vigorous foreign policy — C.R.Fish
intent may imply more deliberate and clear formulation
to tell a lie, also, with intent to deceive was a serious offense — Havelock Ellis
the clear intent of the Taft-Hartley law's provision on secondary boycotts — Wall Street Journal
purpose can apply to what one proposes with resolution and determination
the missionary was here for a purpose, and he pressed his point — Willa Cather
writing her excellent period stories for girls, Elizabeth Howard has a well-defined purpose in view — Current Biography
design may suggest careful ordering, calculating, or scheming
that sense of inherent design that characterizes the English or the Russian novel — J.A.Michener
the TVA is substituting order and design for haphazard, unplanned, and unintegrated development — American Guide Series: Tennessee
to keep this strategic peninsula out of the hands of any power which might harbor aggressive designs — C.A.Fisher
aim may imply clear and definite singleness of purpose or intention
the theoretical understanding of the world, which is the aim of philosophy — Bertrand Russell
the next aim of the company was to secure the St. Louis and Missouri river trade — Grace L. Nute
end stresses intended effect and may subordinate or contrast with notions of means
the final end of government is not to exert restraint but to do good — Rufus Choate
He knows us and our true end is to know Him — J.A.Pike
object is closely synonymous with end but may be used for more individually determined desires or intentions to accomplish
my object all sublime I shall achieve in time — to let the punishment fit the crime — W.S.Gilbert
the object of this society is to elevate the architectural profession as such — American Institute of Architects
objective may be used in relation to that which is quite concrete and tangible and immediately attainable
getting the child to want to write is the new-style teacher's first objective — John Haverstick
to fight wars of limited objective and to make moderate and reasonable peace settlements — W.H.Chamberlin
goal may indicate that which is attained by struggle and endurance of hardship
the achievement of understanding, which is man's highest goal — Ida C. Merriam
could not help thinking that this was my goal, that I had been brought to this spot with a purpose, that in this wild and solitary retreat some tremendous adventure was about to befall me — W.H.Hudson †1922