intention

[in-ten-shuhn]

noun

1. an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result.

2. the end or object intended; purpose.

   Synonyms: goal

3. intentions,

   1. purpose or attitude toward the effect of one's actions or conduct.

      a bungler with good intentions.

   2. purpose or attitude with respect to marriage.

      Our friends are beginning to ask what our intentions are.

4. the act or fact of intending.

5. Logic.

   1. Also called first intention,. Also called primary intention. reference by signs, concepts, etc., to concrete things, their properties, classes, or the relationships among them.

   2. Also called second intention,. Also called secondary intention. reference to properties, classes, or the relationships among first intentions.

6. Surgery, Medicine/Medical.,  a manner or process of healing, as in the healing of a lesion or fracture without granulation healing by first intention or the healing of a wound by granulation after suppuration healing by second intention.

7. meaning or significance.

   The intention of his words was clear.

8. the person or thing meant to benefit from a prayer or religious offering.

9. Archaic.,  intentness.

intention

/ ɪnˈtɛnʃən /

noun

1. a purpose or goal; aim

   it is his intention to reform

2. law the resolve or design with which a person does or refrains from doing an act, a necessary ingredient of certain offences

3. med a natural healing process, as by first intention , in which the edges of a wound cling together with no tissue between, or by second intention , in which the wound edges adhere with granulation tissue

4. (usually plural) design or purpose with respect to a proposal of marriage (esp in the phrase honourable intentions )

5. an archaic word for meaning intentness

Other Word Forms

• intentionless adjective
• misintention noun
• preintention noun
• subintention noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of intention¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English intencio(u)n, from Latin intentiōn- (stem of intentiō ). See intent ², -ion

Synonym Study

Intention, intent, purpose all refer to a wish that one means to carry out. Intention is the general word: His intention is good. Intent is chiefly legal or literary: attack with intent to kill. Purpose implies having a goal or determination to achieve something: Her strong sense of purpose is reflected in her studies.

Example Sentences

The board, Comer alleged, is sidestepping the fundamental fiduciary obligation to protect “the integrity of the museum, despite our best intentions.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When Democrats stated their intentions to finally pass health care reform, Republicans refused to participate.

Read more on Salon

“Are you paying lip service or is this your intention?” the judge asked.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The team discovered that people were more likely to trust false information during "gain" situations, and this behavior corresponded with activation in regions of the brain that process reward, assess risk, and interpret others' intentions.

Read more on Science Daily

Scripps, purchasing 6.3 million shares, with intentions to buy out the local media rival.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• aim 
• hope 
• motive 
• objective 
• plan 
• purpose