Legal Dictionary
Main Entry:
in·tentPronunciation:
in-'tentFunction:
noun 1 : the act or fact of intending: as
a : the design or purpose to commit a wrongful or criminal act called also
criminal intent —compare
KNOWLEDGE,
MENS REA,
MOTIVE,
NEGLIGENCE b : the purpose to commit a tortious act having consequences that the actor desires and believes or knows will occur
constructive intent : intent that is inferred to exist (as from willfulness or recklessness) in relation to an act
criminal intent : INTENT 1a
general intent : intent to perform an illegal act without the desire for further consequences or a precise result
general intent to assault but not to kill>
specific intent
: intent to perform an illegal act with the knowledge or purpose that particular results will or may ensue specific intent to kill>
trans·ferred intent
1 : intent attributed to a person who intends to cause another harm when the harm is accidentally inflicted on an unintended victim
2 : a doctrine in tort and criminal law: a wrongdoer who causes harm to a person other than the one intended may nevertheless be held to have intended the harmful result
2 a : INTENDMENT —see also LEGISLATIVE INTENT b : the purpose of a document (as a contract or will) c : the aim or goal of a person in creating a document or taking an action intent> intent of the contracting parties implied by their language> —see also ORIGINAL INTENT—with intent : with the intent to commit another sometimes specified crime with intent to commit theft therein> with intent>
[in-tent] 
