intend

intend
\ \ [14] The Latin verb intendere (a compound formed from the prefix in- ‘towards’ and tenderestretch’) had a variety of metaphorical meanings, some of which have come through into English. Principal among them was ‘form a plan or purpose’, an extension of an earlier ‘direct or ‘stretch’ one’s thoughts towards something’, which has given English intend and the derived intention [14]. The noun intent [13] belongs with this group too, but the adjective intent [17] looks back to the earlier ‘direct one’s mind towards a particular thing’, and intense [14] comes from the even more literal ‘stretched tight’. A medieval Latin addition to the meanings of intendere was ‘understand’, which English adopted in the 14th century. It had largely died out in English by the end of the 17th century, but it has persisted in the Romance languages, and has even developed further to ‘hear’ (which is what French entendre means).
\ \ Cf.INTENSE, INTENTION, TENSE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • intend — 1. Intend is followed in standard usage by a to infinitive (We intend to go / We intended you to go), by a verbal noun (We intend going), or by a that clause (We intended that you should go). In the passive, it is followed by for in the meaning… …   Modern English usage

  • Intend — In*tend ([i^]n*t[e^]nd ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Intended}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Intending}.] [OE. entenden to be attentive, F. entendre, fr. L. intendre, intentum, and intensum, to intend, attend, stretch out, extend; pref. in in + tendere to stretch …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • intend — intend, mean, design, propose, purpose signify to have in mind as an aim, end, or function. Intend implies that the mind is directed to some definite accomplishment or to the achievement of a definite end {if one earnestly intends a conspiracy,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • intend — in·tend /in tend/ vt: to have in one s mind as a purpose or goal did not intend to kill her Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. intend …   Law dictionary

  • intend — ► VERB 1) have as one s aim or plan. 2) plan that (something) should be, do, or mean something: the book was intended as a satire. 3) (intend for/to do) design or destine for a particular purpose. 4) (be intended for) be meant for the use of.… …   English terms dictionary

  • Intend — may refer to:* Intendant * Intended reader * Intending cross* Intend Change , a 1999 consulting businessee also* Intent * In * Tend …   Wikipedia

  • intend — [in tend′] vt. [ME entenden < OFr entendre < L intendere, to stretch out for, aim at < in , in, at + tendere, to stretch: see THIN] 1. to have in mind as a purpose; plan 2. to mean (something) to be or be used (for); design; destine [a… …   English World dictionary

  • intend — (v.) c.1300, direct one s attention to, from O.Fr. entendre, intendre to direct one s attention (in Modern French principally to hear ), from L. intendere turn one s attention, strain, lit. stretch out, extend, from in toward (see IN (Cf. in )… …   Etymology dictionary

  • intend — [v] have in mind; determine add up, aim, appoint, aspire to, attempt, be determined, be resolved, connote, contemplate, decree, dedicate, denote, design, designate, destine, devote, endeavor, essay, expect, express, figure on, have in mind, hope… …   New thesaurus

  • intend */*/*/ — UK [ɪnˈtend] / US verb [transitive] Word forms intend : present tense I/you/we/they intend he/she/it intends present participle intending past tense intended past participle intended 1) to have a plan in your mind to do something intend to do… …   English dictionary

  • intend — in|tend [ ın tend ] verb transitive *** 1. ) to have a plan in your mind to do something: intend to do something: What do you intend to do about this? intend someone/something to do something: I never intended it to turn out like that. intend… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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