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intent

[in-tent]

Origin

noun

something that is intended; purpose; design; intention: The original intent of the committee was to raise funds.

the act or fact of intending, as to do something: criminal intent.

Law. the state of a person's mind that directs his or her actions toward a specific object.

meaning or significance.

Idiom

to/for all intents and purposes, for all practical purposes; practically speaking; virtually: The book is, to all intents and purposes, a duplication of earlier efforts.

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Intent is always a great word to know.

So is prosecution. Does it mean:

permitting no option, not to be disregarded or modified

the institution and carrying on of legal proceedings against a person; the body of officials by whom such proceedings are instituted and carried on

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Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English < Late Latin intentus an aim, purpose, Latin: a stretching out (inten(dere) to intend + -tus suffix of v. action); replacing Middle English entent(e) < Old French < Late Latin, as above

Can be confused: intense, intensive, intents.

Synonyms
1. See intention. 2. aim, plan, plot.

Dictionary.com Unabridged

adjective

firmly or steadfastly fixed or directed, as the eyes or mind: an intent gaze.

having the attention sharply focused or fixed on something: intent on one's job.

determined or resolved; having the mind or will fixed on some goal: intent on revenge.

earnest; intense: an intent person.

Origin:
1600–10; < Latin intentus taut, intent, past participle of intendere to intend; compare intense

Related forms

in·tent·ly, adverb

in·tent·ness, noun

Synonyms
1, 2. concentrated. 3. resolute, set.

Antonyms
3. irresolute.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To Intent

Collins

World English Dictionary

intent (ɪnˈtɛnt)

—n
1.	something that is intended; aim; purpose; design
2.	the act of intending
3.	law the will or purpose with which one does an act
4.	implicit meaning; connotation
5.	to all intents and purposes for all practical purposes; virtually

—*adj*
6.	firmly fixed; determined; concentrated: an intent look
7.	(postpositive; usually foll by on or upon) having the fixed intention (of); directing one's mind or energy (to): intent on committing a crime

[C13 (in the sense: intention): from Late Latin intentus aim, intent, from Latin: a stretching out; see intend]

in'tently

—*adv*

in'tentness

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

intent

"purpose," early 13c., from O.Fr. entente, from L.L. intentus "attention," from L. intentus (fem. intentia), pp. of intendere "stretch out, lean toward, strain," lit. "stretched out" (see intend). Intentionally "on purpose" is from 1660s.

EXPAND

intent

"very attentive," 1606, from L. intentus "attentive, eager, strained," pp. of intendere "to strain, stretch" (see intend).

COLLAPSE

American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

intent

see to all intents and purposes.

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