intension

[ in-ten-shuhn ]

/ ɪnˈtɛn ʃən /

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noun

intensification; increase in degree.

intensity; high degree.

relative intensity; degree.

exertion of the mind; determination.

Logic. (of a term) the set of attributes belonging to all and only those things to which the given term is correctly applied; connotation; comprehension.Compare extension (def. 12).

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of intension

First recorded in 1595–1605, intension is from the Latin word intēnsiōn- (stem of intēnsiō). See intense, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM intension

in·ten·sion·al, adjectivein·ten·sion·al·ly, adverb

Words nearby intension

Intens, intense, intensely, intensifier, intensify, intension, intensional, intensional object, intensitometer, intensity, intensive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use intension in a sentence

From this arises the distinctive terms known as the content, extension and intension of concepts, respectively.
Thought-Culture|William Walker Atkinson
The technical name for any meaning which is thus individualized is intension.
How We Think|John Dewey
The distinction between connotation and denotation, extension and intension, applies only to general names.
Logic, Inductive and Deductive|William Minto
It was sayd of olde, that zeale was an Intension of love: of late, that it is a compound of love and anger, or indignation.
A Coal From The Altar, To Kindle The Holy Fire of Zeale|Samuel Ward

As the intension increases the extension decreases, and vice versa.
The Classification of Patents|United States Patent Office

British Dictionary definitions for intension

intension

/ (ɪnˈtɛnʃən) /

noun

logic

the set of characteristics or properties by which the referent or referents of a given word are determined: thus, the intension of marsupial is the set containing the characteristics suckling its young and having a pouchCompare extension (def. 11a)
Compare subjective intension

a rare word for intensity, determination

a rare word for intensificationSee intensification

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012