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intent

Etymology and origin of the English word intent

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Latin intentus
English intent

English has two words spelled intent, both from Latin intendere, to stretch out: the noun, purpose, which came through Old French, and the adjective, attentive, taken directly from Latin.[1][2][3]

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɪnˈtɛnt/ (UK)[4]

intent1 purpose

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
before 1225
Borrowed from
Old French entent
Ultimate origin
Latin (intendo)

Etymology

The noun is Middle English entent, entente, borrowed from Old French entent (“intention, application”) and entente (“intention, purpose”),[1][5][6] from Late Latin intentus (“attention, intention”) and Vulgar Latin *intenta, from the past participle of intendere (“to stretch out, strain”) (see intend).[1][5][2] The spelling in- follows Latin.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Purpose, intention: probably before 1200, in the Ancrene Riwle, in Barnhart,[1] before 1225 in the OED, the early 13th century in Etymonline.[7][5]

Semantic evolution

In Middle English it also meant attention (about 1320), effort, the mind or understanding, and meaning or purport (1303), senses now obsolete.[7] In law, the state of mind with which an act is done is from the 17th century.[5][6] Phrases such as to that intent are from 1390,[7] and to all intents and purposes, for all practical purposes, is a set phrase.[8]

Timeline

  • before 1225 – purpose, intention.[7][1]
  • 1303 – meaning, import (obsolete).[7]
  • c. 1320 – attention (obsolete).[7]
  • 17th century – in law, state of mind.[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. Something intended; an aim or purpose.
  2. (law) The state of mind with which a person carries out an act: with intent to kill.
  3. Meaning or purport.

Word family

intent2 attentive, determined

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
late 14th century
Borrowed from
Latin intentus
Ultimate origin
Latin (intendo)

Etymology

The adjective is borrowed from Latin intentus (“attentive, eager, strained”), the past participle of intendere (“to strain, stretch”).[1][5][2][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Very attentive, eager: the late 14th century in Etymonline,[5] late Middle English in SOED.[6] Barnhart dates it from 1606 (earnestly engaged) and 1610 (very attentive).[1]

Semantic evolution

Having the mind fixed on something, as in intent on revenge, is from about 1600.[5] The adverb intently follows.[5]

Timeline

  • late 14th century – attentive, eager.[5]
  • 1606 – earnestly engaged.[1]
  • c. 1600 – having the mind fixed on something.[5]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Firmly fixed or concentrated: an intent gaze.
  2. Having the mind set on a purpose; determined: intent on winning.
  3. Having one's attention fully applied; engrossed.

Word family

  • intently
  • intentness

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  2. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  3. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c d Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  7. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Intent.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/intent. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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