Intention
/ɪnˈtɛnʃən/noun
A thing intended; a purpose or aim.
Did you know?Intention comes from Latin intentio, from intendere, meaning “to stretch toward,” so the word originally described a force being pulled tight like a bowstring.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ten-
“to stretch, extend”
Latin
Latin
tendere
“to stretch, extend, strain”
Latin
Latin
intendere
“to stretch out, direct, aim at”
Late Latin
Latin
intentio
“a stretching out; attention, purpose”
Old French
Old French
intencion
“purpose, intent, meaning”
Middle English
English
intencioun
“purpose, design, aim”
Modern English
English
intention
“a thing intended; purpose or aim”