intent

a. [ L. intentus, p. p. of intendere. See Intend, and cf. Intense. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Closely directed; strictly attentive; bent; -- said of the mind, thoughts, etc.; as, a mind intent on self-improvement. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be intent and solicitous to take up the meaning of the speaker. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be thy intents wicked or charitable. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The principal intent of Scripture is to deliver the laws of duties supernatural. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

To all intents and purposes, in all applications or senses; practically; really; virtually; in essence; essentially. “He was miserable to all intents and purpose.” L'Estrange.

Syn. -- Design; purpose; intention; meaning; purport; view; drift; object; end; aim; plan. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Intention. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. intention, L. intentio. See Intend, and cf. Intension. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A stretching or bending of the mind toward an object; closeness of application; fixedness of attention; earnestness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Intention is when the mind, with great earnestness, and of choice, fixes its view on any idea. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hell is paved with good intentions. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The object toward which the thoughts are directed; end; aim. [ 1913 Webster ]

In [ chronical distempers ], the principal intention is to restore the tone of the solid parts. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The state of being strained. See Intension. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Logic) Any mental apprehension of an object. [ 1913 Webster ]

First intention (Logic), a conception of a thing formed by the first or direct application of the mind to the individual object; an idea or image; as, man, stone. --
Second intention (Logic), a conception generalized from first intuition or apprehension already formed by the mind; an abstract notion; especially, a classified notion, as species, genus, whiteness. --
To heal by the first intention (Surg.), to cicatrize, as a wound, without suppuration. --
To heal by the second intention (Surg.), to unite after suppuration.

Syn. -- Design; purpose; object; aim; intent; drift; purport; meaning. See Design. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. intentionnel. ] Done by intention or design; intended; designed; as, the act was intentional, not accidental. Opposite of unintentional or unintended. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being intentional; purpose; design. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an intentional manner; with intention; by design; of purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having designs; -- chiefly used in composition; as, well-intentioned, having good designs; ill-intentioned, having ill designs. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. ententif, OF. ententif, fr. L. intentivus intensive. See Intent, n., and cf. Intensive. ] Attentive; intent. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]