intent English · revision 6803

+ 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.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪnˈtɛnt/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|1|purpose}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1225|origins=la intendo}}

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+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is Middle English entent, entente, [[bor|fro|entent|t=intention, application]] and [[m|fro|entente|t=intention, purpose]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[la-lat|intentus|t=attention, intention]] and Vulgar Latin *intenta, from the past participle of [[m|la|intendo|alt=intendere|t=to stretch out, strain]] (see [[intend]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) The spelling in- follows Latin.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Purpose, intention: probably before 1200, in the ''Ancrene Riwle'', in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) before 1225 in the OED, the early 13th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle English it also meant attention (about 1320), effort, the mind or understanding, and meaning or purport (1303), senses now obsolete.^(OED 1989) In law, the state of mind with which an act is done is from the 17th century.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Phrases such as ''to that intent'' are from 1390,^(OED 1989) and ''to all intents and purposes'', for all practical purposes, is a set phrase.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1225 – purpose, intention.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1303 – meaning, import (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1320 – attention (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 17th century – in law, state of mind.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something intended; an aim or [[purpose]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' The state of mind with which a person carries out an act: ''with intent to kill''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Meaning or [[purport]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[intention]]

+ * [[intentional]]

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+ {{homograph|2|attentive, determined}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=late 14th century|origins=la intendo}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is [[bor|la|intentus|t=attentive, eager, strained]], the past participle of [[m|la|intendo|alt=intendere|t=to strain, stretch]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Very attentive, eager: the late 14th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) late Middle English in SOED.^(SOED 2002) Barnhart dates it from 1606 (earnestly engaged) and 1610 (very attentive).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Having the mind fixed on something, as in ''intent on revenge'', is from about 1600.^(Etymonline) The adverb [[intently]] follows.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 14th century – attentive, eager.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1606 – earnestly engaged.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1600 – having the mind fixed on something.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Firmly fixed or [[concentrate|alt=concentrated]]: ''an intent gaze''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Having the mind set on a purpose; [[determined]]: ''intent on winning''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Having one's attention fully applied; [[engrossed]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[intently]]

+ * [[intentness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[intend]]

+ * [[intense]]

+ * [[intensive]]

+ * [[tend]]

+ * [[attend]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}