intent - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Existing since Middle English entente, from Old French entent or entente, ultimately from Latin intentus. Modified later in spelling to align more closely with the Latin word. Compare intention.

intent (countable and uncountable, plural intents)

  1. Something that is intended.
  2. (law) The state of someone’s mind at the time of committing an offence.

something that is intended

intent (comparative more intent, superlative most intent)

  1. Firmly fixed or concentrated on something.
    a mind intent on self-improvement
    • 1779, John Newton, “Prayer anſwered by croſſes”, in Olney hymns, in three books, London: W. Oliver, page 353:
      Yea more, with his own hand he ſeem’d
      Intent to aggravate my woe;
    • 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter I, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
      And it was while all were passionately intent upon the pleasing and snake-like progress of their uncle that a young girl in furs, ascending the stairs two at a time, peeped perfunctorily into the nursery as she passed the hallway—and halted amazed.
  2. Engrossed.
  3. Unwavering from a course of action.

firmly fixed or concentrated

Borrowed from Latin intentus.

intent m (plural intents)

  1. try, attempt
  2. (castells) a castell that is officially begun but that collapses before its construction is completed (as opposed to a castell carregat, which collapses after it is completed, or an intent desmuntat, which is not completed but is successfully dismantled without collapsing)