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Etymology and origin of the Latin word intendo

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Ennius
Ultimate origin
Latin (tendō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪnˈtɛn.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈtɛn.do][1]

Forms

intendō (present infinitive intendere, perfect active intendī, supine intentum or intensum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from in- (“towards”) and tendō “to stretch”.[2][1][3] Both participles, intentus and intēnsus, occur.[1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Ennius, of bending a bow, and Plautus, of stretching tight.[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to tighten by stretching, to bend a bow, as in Ennius, to tune a lyre, to spread over or cover, as in Cato, and to strain one's strength or voice.[2] It meant to intensify, to stretch out the hand towards, as Cicero's right hand stretched towards a statue, and Plautus' finger pointed in scorn, to point weapons, and to direct one's course, eyes or mind, as in Cicero.[2][6][4] Intransitively it meant to make for a place, to tend, and to apply oneself, be bent on something, as in Plautus.[2] In law it meant to maintain a claim and to bring a charge.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to look at, give heed, intend, direct.[7] It survives in French entendre “to hear” and Spanish and Portuguese entender “to understand”.[1] English intend came through Old French about 1300, first meaning “to pay attention”, English intense from its participle intēnsus in the early 15th century, and English intention from intentiō.[3]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of bending a bow.[2][5]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of pointing a finger and of applying oneself.[2][4][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of directing the mind.[2][5]
  • c. 1300 – English intend is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To stretch tight; to bend (a bow).[2]
  2. To spread over; to cover.[2]
  3. To strain, exert; to concentrate (the mind).[2]
  4. To intensify; to exaggerate.[2]
  5. To stretch out, point (the hand); to direct (the eyes).[2]
  6. To aim (weapons, threats).[2]
  7. To direct (one's course or mind).[2]
  8. (intransitive) To make for; to apply oneself; to intend.[2]
  9. (law) To maintain (a claim); to bring (a charge).[2]

Word family

  • intentiō
  • intentīvus
  • intentō
  • intentus
  • superintendo
  • intēnsus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Intendo.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/intendo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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