intend definition | Dictionary.com

in⋅tend

[in-tend]

–verb (used with object)

1.	to have in mind as something to be done or brought about; plan: We intend to leave in a month.

2.	to design or mean for a particular purpose, use, recipient, etc.: a fund intended for emergency use only.

3.	to design to express or indicate, as by one's words; refer to.

4.	(of words, terms, statements, etc.) to mean or signify.

5.	Archaic. to direct (the eyes, mind, etc.).

–verb (used without object)

6.	to have a purpose or design.

7.	Obsolete. to set out on one's course.

Origin:
1250–1300; < L intendere to stretch towards, aim at (see in- ² , tend ¹ ); r. ME entenden < OF entendre < L, as above

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source

Language Translation for : intend

Spanish:

tener la intención de, querer,

German:

beabsichtigen,meinen,

Japanese:

意図する

View 30 other languages »

in·tend   (ĭn-těnd') Pronunciation Key
v.   in·tend·ed, in·tend·ing, in·tends

v.   tr.

To have in mind; plan: We intend to go. They intend going. You intended that she go.
1. To design for a specific purpose.
2. To have in mind for a particular use.
To signify or mean.

v. intr.
To have a design or purpose in mind.

[Middle English entenden, from Old French entendre, from Latin intendere : in-, toward; see in-² + tendere, to stretch; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

intend

c.1300, "direct one's attention to," from O.Fr. intendre "to direct one's attention," from L. intendere "turn one's attention, strain," lit. "stretch out, extend," from in- "toward" + tendere "to stretch" (see tenet). Sense of "have as a plan" (1390) was present in Latin. A Gmc. word for this was ettle, from O.N. ætla "to think, conjecture, propose," from P.Gmc. *ahta "consideration, attention" (cf. O.E. eaht, Ger. acht). Intended (n.) "one's intended husband or wife" is from 1767.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

intend
verb
1.	have in mind as a purpose; "I mean no harm"; "I only meant to help you"; "She didn't think to harm me"; "We thought to return early that night"
2.	design or destine; "She was intended to become the director"
3.	mean or intend to express or convey; "You never understand what I mean!"; "what do his words intend?" [syn: mean]
4.	denote or connote; "'maison' means 'house' in French"; "An example sentence would show what this word means" [syn: mean]

Intend

En*tend"\, v. i. [F. entendre, fr. L. intendere. See Intend.] To attend to; to apply one's self to. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Search another word or see intend on Thesaurus | Reference | Translate

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Link to Us · Report Ad · Contact Us

Get your FREE Subscription to Dictionary.com Word of the Day