▪ I. intent, n.
(ɪnˈtɛnt)
Forms: 3–6 entent, entente, (5 ententte); 4–6 intente, (7 intentt), 3– intent.
[ME. had two forms: (1) entent, intent, a. OF. entent intention, application:—L. intent-us a stretching out, in late L. attention, intention, f. intent-, ppl. stem of intendĕre to intend; (2) entente, intente, a. OF. entente intention, thought, desire, purpose, etc.:—pop.L. *intenta n. from fem. of intentus pa. pple. (analogous to ns. in -ata, etc.), from same vb. In ME. entent appears to be more frequent, and entente disappears before 1500; but in the pl. ententes, the two forms were indistinguishable, and it is not possible to separate them in sense. The form with in- is rare before 1400, while en- is rarely found after 1550. They were equally common c 1500.]
1. The act or fact of intending or purposing; intention, purpose (formed in the mind). Formerly also, in more general sense, Will, inclination; that which is willed, pleasure, desire (cf. 4). Now chiefly in legal phraseology, and in the expressions with intent to (hurt, etc.), with good or malicious intent, etc.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 386 Haue, in al þet tu dest, on of þeos two ententes, oðer bo togederes. a 1300 Cursor M. 2636 Agar..ham til hir lauedi went And serued hir wit god entent. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints, Bertholomeus 279, I ame redy, lo, to fulfill al þine entent, & sacrify to þi mawnment. c 1400 Destr. Troy 11364, I haue takon intent þo traitours to sle. c 1460 Play Sacram. 120 My curat waytheth vpon me to knowe myn entent. 1526 Tindale Heb. iv. 12 And iudgeth the thoughtes and the intentes off the herte. 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. (1580) 31 We maie advise hym, to continue in his good entent. 1570 T. Norton tr. Nowel's Catech. (Parker Soc.) 204 Men ought not to be beneficial and liberal, of intent to get thanks. 1660 Trial Regic. 9 In the case of the King; His life was so precious, that the Intent was Treason by the Common Law. a 1716 South Twelve Serm. (1744) II. 112 It was Josephus's intent by this device to slubber over the massacre of these innocents. 1769 Blackstone Comm. IV. iii. 35 The bare intent to commit treason is many times actual treason. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) VI. 496 In a will, the intent and meaning of the devisor was to be observed, and the law would make construction of the words to satisfy his intent. 1843 James Forest Days ii, They were rushing upon the old peasant with no very merciful intent. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 142 He who wounds with intent to kill..shall be tried as if he had succeeded. 1896 Duke of Argyll Philos. Belief 408 Christian ethics..insists on a purity enthroned in the thoughts and intents of the heart. 1897 Daily News 13 Feb. 4/6 Sent to five years' penal servitude for wounding a man with intent. |
† b. Design, plan, project, scheme. Obs.
| c 1386 Chaucer Man of Law's T. 49 In swich place as thoughte hem auantage ffor hire entente they take hir herbergage. c 1400 Sowdone Bab. 625 Isres in his fals ententes Purposed treson and sorowe. 1513 More in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 795 To propose their entent of which they would to none other person any part disclose. 1665 Manley Grotius' Low C. Warres 103 Subtle in the managing of the Intents of that Noble and great-spirited Young-man. 1830 James Darnley xxxviii, The nobles joining in his intent, showered their largess upon their retainers. |
† 2. Attention, heed; intent observation. Obs.
| c 1320 R. Brunne Medit. 43 Take gode entent How petyr and iohne from hym he sent. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. (E.E.T.S.) 105 Þe Iew wolde noght loke aȝeyn, no gyf entent to his sawes. c 1477 Caxton Jason 12 He behelde her with grete entente. c 1570 Pride & Lowl. (1841) 9 And it beheld with full and whole intent. 1704 Steele Lying Lover ii. (1747) 40 Betty, do you see with what Intent..Penelope gazes yonder? |
† 3. Intent or assiduous effort, endeavour. Obs.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter xvi. 7 Wiþ stalworth entent i adressid my prayere til þe. c 1374 Chaucer Anel. & Arc. 28 The peple blisful al and somme..him to honouren dide al her intent. a 1450 Le Morte Arth. 3691 To please god Alle that I maye I shalle here-After do myne entente. 1483 Cath. Angl. 197/1 An Intente,..opera. |
† 4. Mind, or an act of the mind; understanding; the mental faculties generally; frame of mind, will, spirit; perception, judgement; what is in the mind, notion, opinion, or thought of any kind. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 365 (Gött.) Þe world i calle wid min ententis Þe mater of foure elementis. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints, Egipciane 121 Quhene gudmen suld to faste begyne, of syne to clenge þare entent. c 1386 Chaucer Man of Law's T. 824 She taketh in good entente The wyl of Crist. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 150 Her dethe and his living She chose with all her hole entent. 1420 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. iii. I. 68 Vp on the beste wyse that we cowde deuyse aftir owr simple ententes. c 1470 Henry Wallace i. 370 Sic fantasye fell in his entent. 1513 Bradshaw St. Werburge i. 7, I..cast in myne intent How I myght spende the tyme conuenyent. 1623 Lisle ælfric on O. & N. Test. Pref. 5 Hereby grew..the second error..worse (to their intent) then the first. |
† 5. Meaning; import; purport. Obs.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne Prol. 174 To turne it fro þat speche away In to laten..Þat þe Inglis mot know þe entente. Ibid. 976 Of þys tale ys alle þe entent To kepe weyl þe commaundement. 1495 Act 11 Hen. VII, c. 8 So obscure derke and diffuse that the true entent of the makers therof cannot perfitely be undrestond. 1572 Forrest Theophilus 347 in Anglia VII, The some and entent of hys hole requeste. a 1676 Hale Contempl. ii. 57 It is more Large and Spacious than the intent of the Text bears. |
† b. Law = intendment 4. Obs.
| 1574 tr. Littleton's Tenures 17 b, Hee that shall haue the lande..shall haue the same lande after the Entent of the surrender. 1608 W. Bradshaw Unreason. Separ. 26 What obedience doe they promise to the Prelates in the intent of the Law, but onely in things that they shall judge honest and Lawfull. 1767 Blackstone Comm. II. 476 They not being goods, wares, or merchandize, within the intent of the statute, by which a profit may be fairly made. |
6. An end purposed; the object of an action, etc.; aim, purpose. rare or Obs. exc. as in c.
| c 1340 Hampole Prose Tr. 10 Ffor þat entent anely [þay] are for to lowte. 1375 Barbour Bruce iii. 206 Thai come weill till thar entent. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. Prol. 78 That nys nothyng the entent of myn labour. c 1440 Jacob's Well (E.E.T.S.) 79 Whanne..þe ende & þe entent is, for to don þerby ony dedly synne, þanne is þat desyre..dedly synne. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cxl. 167 He thought by their meanes the soner to come to his entent. 1655 Culpepper, etc. Riverius xv. iii. 412 Juyce of the Knot-grass may be used to the same intent. 1754 Chatham Lett. Nephew iv. 22, I highly recommend the end and intent of Pythagoras's injunction. 1863 Kinglake Crimea (1876) I. iv. 60 Some outward and visible figure or sign to which the multitude could point as the symbol of its great intent. |
† b. In phrases, as to what intent, to that intent, for this intent, etc. Esp. in the conjunctional phrase to († for) the intent (that): to the end (that), in order (that). Obs.
| 1390 Gower Conf. I. 180 [He] axeth hem to what entente Thei have here ferste feith forsake. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 161 Y wolde that the tyme were come ayen to that entent to encrece the worship of alle goode. c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. ix. (1885) 130 But this is writun only to the entent, þat it be wel vnderstande, how [etc.]. 1470–85 Malory Arthur ii. xvii, I did it to this entent that it sholde better thy courage. 1513 More Rich. III (1883) 7 [He] forethought to be king..And thei deme, that for thys intente, he was gladde of his brothers death. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. clx. 195 To the entent they somwhat to-breke and to-opyn the archers. 1526 Tindale John xiii. 28 That wist noo man at the table for what intent he spake vnto hym. 1569 J. Rogers Gl. Godly Loue (1876) 179 To the intente that they two may dwell together. 1611 Bible John xi. 15 To the intent yee may beleeue. 1703 Maundrell Journ. Jerus. (1732) 24 To the intent that I might give some light, for the better deciding [etc.]. |
c. to (for) all intents and purposes (less usually to all intents): in regard to any end or object, for all practical purposes, ‘practically’.
| 1546 Act 37 Hen. VIII, c. 9 §1 To all intents, constructions, and purposes. 1555 Ridley Wks. (Parker Soc.) 19, I would know, whether that Christ's words, spoken upon the cup, were not as mighty in work, and as effectual in signification, to all intents, constructions, and purposes (as our Parliament men do speak), as they were, spoken upon the bread? 1629 Strafford Let. in Slingsby's Diary (1836) 321 Your self [being] as formerly vice president to all intentts. 1709 Addison Tatler No. 96 ¶2 Whoever resides in the World without having any Business in it..is to me a Dead Man to all Intents and Purposes. 1856 Ruskin Mod. Paint. IV. v. xiii. §5 The materials are so hardened and knit together that to all intents and purposes they form one solid mass. 1879 M. Arnold Ess., Porro unum 162 The rest of the nation consists, for all intents and purposes, of one immense class. |
† 7. The subject or theme to be treated in an argument or discourse. Obs.
| c 1460 Play Sacram. 6 We be ful purposed w{supt} hart & w{supt} thowght Off oure mater to tell y⊇ entent. 1594 J. Dickenson Arisbas (1878) 41 Leauing this digression, I will returne to the proposed entent of my discourse. 1638 F. Junius Paint. of Ancients 198 It is better wee should pursue our intent, by comparing that carefull diligence of the ancients [etc.]. 1670 E. Borlase Lathom Spaw 45 From whence this Patient received so much benefit: But to our intent. |
† b. Sc. Law. A cause in litigation. Obs.
| c 1575 Balfour's Practicks (1754) 373 Efter that the partie has chosin ane certain nombre of witnessis for preiving of his intent he may not..desire ony ma nor thame allanerlie quhom he has chosin. |
▪ II. intent, a.
(ɪnˈtɛnt)
[ad. L. intent-us bent on (something), strained, attentive, earnest, eager, pa. pple. of intendĕre to intend; cf. OF. intent intended, attentive, assiduous.
Intent and intense are etymologically doublets, intentus and intensus being two forms of the L. pple.; but already in L. intensus was (like the simple tensus) more restricted to the physical sense ‘stretched, strained’, hence ‘intense, violent’, while intentus was extended to the notion of ‘mentally or nervously on the stretch, intent, eager, attentive’. In the modern langs. this differentiation has been made more complete. So with intention, intension.]
1. Having the mind strenuously bent upon something; earnestly attentive, sedulously occupied, eager, assiduous; bent, resolved. a. Const. on, upon; formerly to (at) or inf.
| 1610 Hymne in Farr S.P. Jas. I (1848) 28 How intent our prayers to heare. 1654–66 Earl of Orrery Parthen. (1676) 15 If I endeavoured to preserve a life she is so intent to destroy. 1660 R. Coke Power & Subj. 37 The third are..always intent upon robbery. 1661 Bramhall Just Vind. iv. 87 The Court of Rome so potent, so prudent, so vigilant, so intent to their own advantage. 1674 tr. Scheffer's Lapland 107 Women in the absence of men, are very intent for some weeks at catching fish. 1764 Goldsm. Trav. 329 Intent on high designs, a thoughtful band. 1866 Kingsley Herew. i, They had met him riding along, intent upon his psalter. 1888 J. Inglis Tent Life Tigerland 345 Intent on securing what seemed to be a good head of horns. |
b. Without const.
| 1704 Pope Windsor For. 138 The patient fisher takes his silent stand, Intent, his angle trembling in his hand. 1835 Lytton Rienzi x. viii, He stood, with folded arms, musing and intent. |
| Comb. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 19 Oct. 1/3 An alert, very intent-looking man. |
2. Of the faculties, looks, etc.: Directed with strained or keen attention; earnest, eager, keen; intense. Const. on, upon († to).
| 1606 L. Bryskett Civ. Life 276 The Intellective soule..being once freed from the bodie..is altogether bent and intent to contemplation. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 38 ¶11 The intent Application with which he pursues Trifles. 1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters II. 199 The eye is intent upon watching the changes. 1830 D'Israeli Chas. I, III. vi. 79 So intent was his elegant mind on those treasures of literature and art. 1849 C. Brontë Shirley ii. 20 His eyes are large..their expression is intent and meditative. |
† 3. Intensely active. Opposed to remiss. Obs.
| 1650 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. (ed. 2) 312 The streams from either side..arise or fall according to the motion in those parts, and the intent or remisse operation of the first exciting causes. |
▪ III. † inˈtent, v. Obs.
Also 3–6 en-.
[In branch I, ME. a. OF. entente-r to intend, attempt (14th c. in Godef.), ad. L. intentāre to stretch out towards, direct, threaten with, attack, accuse, freq. of intendĕre to intend. In sense 4, a. F. intenter (14th c.), to institute (a legal process) = med.L. intentāre lītem; in sense 5, app. directly from L. intentāre.]
I. 1. intr. To direct the mind or attention, to give heed, to attend; to be intent.
| 13.. K. Alis. 2834 Whiles the people of the toun Ententid to Permeneon. 1475 Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 11 [He] ententid about the defence and saufegarde of the gret cite of Acres. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. ix. (1632) 626 The King now wholly intented vpon encrease of treasure. |
b. trans. To attend to.
| 14.. Prose Leg. in Anglia VIII. 148 Ententynge þat þe apostel seiþ. c 1500 New Notbroune Mayd 433 in Hazl. E.P.P. III. 18 My comaundement Neuer tentente. |
2. intr. and trans. To intend, purpose.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 26793 Sli[k] penance mai ha na f[r]o, Man dos intent at eft misdo. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 77 To aske therby all thynges that he entented shulde be asked therby. 1494 Fabyan Chron. iv. lxviii. 46 He expulsed..his fader Herculeus Maxymyanus y{supt} ententyd agayne to haue been Emperoure. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccxxxv. 331 To lerne what their enemyes entented. 1577–87 Holinshed Scot. Chron. (1805) I. 196 Donald..had understanding what these outlawes intented. |
3. trans. To make an attempt on; to try to seize.
| c 1400 Sowdone Bab. 550 Ferumbras than gan to assaye, If he myght that praye entente. |
II. 4. trans. To institute (a legal action). Sc.
| 15.. Acts Sederunt 6 (Jam.) The saidis Lordis declaris that the samen sal not prejudge ony persone..of thair lawful defences..aganis ony actioun to be intentit heireftir at his Majesties instance. 1673–4 Lauderdale Papers, He heard that she hade given orders to intent a law suit against him. 1737 J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. ii. ii. iv. 376 (Scotland), The Lord Advocate..intents no Processes of Treason, except by Warrant of Privy-Council. |
5. To accuse. b. To level (an accusation). rare.
| 1613 W. Browne Brit. Past. Pref. Verses (N.), They were her errors, whilst she intented Browne. 1695 J. Sage Article Wks. 1895 I. 389 The accusation was intented against the Queen. |