Definition: intention

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

intention
     n 1: an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your
          planned actions; "his intent was to provide a new
          translation"; "good intentions are not enough"; "it was
          created with the conscious aim of answering immediate
          needs"; "he made no secret of his designs" [syn: purpose,
           intent, aim, design]
     2: (usually plural) the goal with respect to a marriage
        proposal; "his intentions are entirely honorable"
     3: an act of intending; a volition that you intend to carry
        out; "my intention changed once I saw her"

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Intention \In*ten"tion\, n. [F. intention, L. intentio. See
   Intend, and cf. Intension.]
   1. A stretching or bending of the mind toward of the mind
      toward an object; closeness of application; fixedness of
      attention; earnestness.

            Intention is when the mind, with great earnestness,
            and of choice, fixes its view on any idea. --Locke.

   2. A determination to act in a certain way or to do a certain
      thing; purpose; design; as, an intention to go to New
      York.

            Hell is paved with good intentions.   --Johnson.

   3. The object toward which the thoughts are directed; end;
      aim.

            In [chronical distempers], the principal intention
            is to restore the tone of the solid parts.
                                                  --Arbuthnot.

   4. The state of being strained. See Intension. [Obs.]

   5. (Logic) Any mental apprehension of an object.

   First intention (Logic), a conception of a thing formed by
      the first or direct application of the mind to the
      individual object; an idea or image; as, man, stone.

   Second intention (Logic), a conception generalized from
      first intuition or apprehension already formed by the
      mind; an abstract notion; especially, a classified notion,
      as species, genus, whiteness.

   To heal by the first intention (Surg.), to cicatrize, as a
      wound, without suppuration.

   To heal by the second intention (Surg.), to unite after
      suppuration.

   Syn: Design; purpose; object; aim; intent; drift; purport;
        meaning. See Design.


   7. (Mach.) A joint or other connection uniting parts of
      machinery, or the like, as the elastic pipe of a tender
      connecting it with the feed pipe of a locomotive engine;
      especially, a pipe fitting for connecting pipes, or pipes
      and fittings, in such a way as to facilitate
      disconnection.

   8. (Brewing) A cask suspended on trunnions, in which
      fermentation is carried on.

   Hypostatic union (Theol.) See under Hypostatic.

   Latin union. See under Latin.

   Legislative Union (Eng. Hist.), the union of Great Britain
      and Ireland, which took place Jan. 1, 1801.

   Union, or Act of Union (Eng. Hist.), the act by which
      Scotland was united to England, or by which the two
      kingdoms were incorporated into one, in 1707.

   Union by the first, or second, intention. (Surg.) See
      To heal by the first, or second, intention, under
      Intention.

   Union down (Naut.), a signal of distress at sea made by
      reversing the flag, or turning its union downward.

   Union jack. (Naut.) See Jack, n., 10.

   Union joint. (Mech.)
      (a) A joint formed by means of a union.
      (b) A piece of pipe made in the form of the letter T.

   Syn: Unity; junction; connection; concord; alliance;
        coalition; combination; confederacy.

   Usage: Union, Unity. Union is the act of bringing two or
          more things together so as to make but one, or the
          state of being united into one. Unity is a state of
          simple oneness, either of essence, as the unity of
          God, or of action, feeling, etc., as unity of design,
          of affection, etc. Thus, we may speak of effecting a
          union of interests which shall result in a unity of
          labor and interest in securing a given object.

                One kingdom, joy, and union without end.
                                                  --Milton.

                [Man] is to . . . beget Like of his like, his
                image multiplied. In unity defective; which
                requires Collateral love, and dearest amity.
                                                  --Milton.

INTENTION, n.  The mind's sense of the prevalence of one set of
influences over another set; an effect whose cause is the imminence,
immediate or remote, of the performance of an involuntary act.