Adjacent Words

Intent definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

INTENT', a. [L. intentus, from intendo. See Intend.]
Literally, having the mind strained or bent on an object; hence, fixed closely; sedulously applied; eager in pursuit of an object; anxiously diligent; formerly with to, but now with on; as intent on business or pleasure; intent on the acquisition of science.
Be intent and solicitous to take up the meaning of the speaker--
INTENT', n. Literally, the stretching of the mind towards an object; hence, a design; a purpose; intention; meaning; drift; aim; applied to persons or things.
The principal intent of Scripture is to deliver the laws of duties supernatural.
I ask therefore, for what intent ye have sent for me? Acts 10.
To all intents, in all senses; whatever may be designed.
He was miserable to all intents and purposes.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: giving or marked by complete attention to; "that engrossed look or rapt delight"; "then wrapped in dreams"; "so intent on this fantastic...narrative that she hardly stirred"- Walter de la Mare; "rapt with wonder"; "wrapped in thought" [syn: captive, absorbed, engrossed, enwrapped, intent, wrapped] n
1: an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions; "his intent was to provide a new translation"; "good intentions are not enough"; "it was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs"; "he made no secret of his designs" [syn: purpose, intent, intention, aim, design]
2: the intended meaning of a communication [syn: intent, purport, spirit]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English entente, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin intentus, from Latin, act of stretching out, from intendere Date: 13th century 1. a. the act or fact of intending ; purpose; especially the design or purpose to commit a wrongful or criminal act <admitted wounding him with intent> b. the state of mind with which an act is done ; volition 2. a usually clearly formulated or planned intention ; aim <the director's intent> 3. a. meaning, significance b. connotation 3 Synonyms: see intention II. adjective Etymology: Latin intentus, from past participle of intendere Date: 14th century 1. directed with strained or eager attention ; concentrated 2. having the mind, attention, or will concentrated on something or some end or purpose <intent on their work> • intently adverb • intentness noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & adj. --n. (usu. without article) intention; a purpose (with intent to defraud; my intent to reach the top; with evil intent). --adj. 1 (usu. foll. by on) a resolved; bent; determined (was intent on succeeding). b attentively occupied (intent on his books). 2 (esp. of a look) earnest; eager; meaningful. Phrases and idioms: to all intents and purposes practically; virtually. Derivatives: intently adv. intentness n. Etymology: ME entent f. OF f. L intentus (as INTEND)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Intent In*tent", a. [L. intentus, p. p. of intendere. See Intend, and cf. Intense.] 1. Closely directed; strictly attentive; bent; -- said of the mind, thoughts, etc.; as, a mind intent on self-improvement. 2. Having the mind closely directed to or bent on an object; sedulous; eager in pursuit of an object; -- formerly with to, but now with on; as, intent on business or pleasure. ``Intent on mischief.'' --Milton. Be intent and solicitous to take up the meaning of the speaker. --I. Watts.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Intent In*tent", n. [OE. entent, entente, attention, purpose, OF. entente, F. entente understanding, meaning; a participial noun, fr. F. & OF. entendre. See Intend.] The act of turning the mind toward an object; hence, a design; a purpose; intention; meaning; drift; aim. Be thy intents wicked or charitable. --Shak. The principal intent of Scripture is to deliver the ?aws of duties supernatural. --Hooker. To all intents, and purposes, in all applications or senses; practically; really; virtually; essentially. ``He was miserable to all intents and purpose.'' --L'Estrange. Syn: Design; purpose; intention; meaning; purport; view; drift; object; end; aim; plan.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(intents) 1. If you are intent on doing something, you are eager and determined to do it. The rebels are obviously intent on keeping up the pressure... ADJ: v-link ADJ on/upon -ing/n 2. If someone does something in an intent way, they pay great attention to what they are doing. (WRITTEN) She looked from one intent face to another... ADJ: oft ADJ on/upon n • intently He listened intently, then slammed down the phone. ADV: ADV after v 3. A person's intent is their intention to do something. (FORMAL) ...a strong statement of intent on arms control... N-VAR 4. You say to all intents and purposes to suggest that a situation is not exactly as you describe it but the effect is the same as if it were. To all intents and purposes he was my father. PHRASE: usu PHR with cl

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. a. 1. Eager, earnest, close, closely fixed. 2. Bent, resolutely bent, set. II. n. Design, purpose, intention, aim, end, meaning, drift, purport, object, scope, mark, purview.

Moby Thesaurus

abandoned, absorbed, absorbed in, acceptation, advertent, afire, agog, aim, alert, all ears, all eyes, ambition, animus, ardent, aspiration, assiduous, attending, attentive, avid, aware, bent, bent on, buried in, burning, careful, caught up in, committed, conation, concentrated, conscious, contemplating, contemplative, counsel, dead set on, decided, decided upon, decisive, dedicated, deep, desideration, desideratum, design, desire, determination, determined, determined upon, devoted, devoted to, devout, diligent, eager, earnest, effect, end, engaged, engrossed, engrossed in, enthusiastic, faithful, fervent, fervid, fiery, finical, finicking, finicky, firm, fixed, fixed purpose, fixed upon, flaming, function, goal, hearty, heated, heedful, hell-bent on, hot, hot-blooded, idea, immersed, immersed in, impassioned, import, in earnest, in effect, inclination, intending, intendment, intense, intent on, intent upon, intention, intentive, involved, keen, lost in, loyal, meaning, meditating, meditative, meticulous, mind, mindful, monomaniacal, monopolized, more or less, motive, nice, niggling, nisus, object, objective, observant, observing, obsessed, occupied, on fire, on the ball, on the job, open-eared, open-eyed, openmouthed, passionate, perfervid, plan, point, practically, preoccupied, project, proposal, prospectus, purport, purpose, rapt, red-hot, regardful, resolute, resolution, resolve, resolved, resolved upon, riveted, sake, sense, serious, set, set on, settled, settled upon, significance, significancy, signification, sincere, single-minded, sot on, spirited, steadfast, steady, striving, studious, study, studying, submerged in, swept up, taken up with, target, tendency, totally absorbed, understanding, vehement, view, virtually, volition, warm, watchful, watching, white-hot, will, wrapped, wrapped in, wrapped up, wrapped up in, zealous