intension

American  

[in-ten-shuhn] / ɪnˈtɛn ʃən /

noun

1. intensification; increase in degree.

2. intensity; high degree.

3. relative intensity; degree.

4. exertion of the mind; determination.

5. 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.

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intension British  

/ ɪnˈtɛnʃən /

noun

1. logic

   1. 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 pouch Compare extension

   2. Compare subjective intension

2. a rare word for intensity determination

3. a rare word for intensification See intensification

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Other Word Forms

• intensional
  adjective
• intensionally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of intension

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

Explanation

Intension sounds like "intention," and it's just one letter off, but it means something else. It's a term used in logic and linguistics to refer to the concept that a word evokes. Intension is a common misspelling of intention, but the two words shouldn't be confused. If you're talking about an aim or purpose, then you want intention. Intension with an "s" should only be used in technical discussions about the meaning of language, or semantics. The intension of the word "dog" is the whole concept of dog-ness that the word brings to mind.

Example Sentences

"Whether HSF5 shares similar functions with other Heat Shock Factors, or exhibits entirely different functions poses an intriguing question, and addressing this question was the original intension our study." explains Professor Ishiguro.

From Science Daily • May 1, 2024

And even when a record company has all the best intension in the world, nowadays the social media world has made promotion much more complicated.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2023

It could be that the composer’s intension was to stir us to action rather than still us into easy apathy.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2022

It's just sort of a normal white bread haircut, but it was still done with intension, as McGregor revealed:

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2022

When, for example, the pupil gains general notions representative of the classes, proper noun and common noun, the new terms merely add something to the intension of the more extensive term noun.

From Ontario Normal School Manuals: Science of Education by Ontario. Ministry of Education