-chən ə l, -chnəl adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin intentionalis, from Latin intention-, intentio intention, attention + -alis -al
1. : relating to intention or design : having an intention
deeply intentional in its message — Fanny Butcher
2. : done by intention or design : intended , designed
intentional damage
3.
a. : of, relating to, or based on intention (sense 4b) or a particular conception of intention
a simple categorical statement (for example, “Parsifal sought the Holy Grail”) is intentional if it uses a substantival expression (in this instance, “the Holy Grail”) without implying either that there is or there isn't anything to which the expression truly applies — R.M.Chisholm
b. : referring or pointing beyond itself
the intentional structure of consciousness — Hannah Arendt
Synonyms: see voluntary