intent

Firmly fixed or concentrated on something.

Adjective

  1. Firmly fixed or concentrated on something.
    • a mind intent on self-improvement
    • Yea more, with his own hand he ſeem’d Intent to aggravate my woe; - 1779, John Newton, “Prayer anſwered by croſſes”, in Olney hymns, in three books, London: W. Oliver, page 353:
    • 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...
  2. Engrossed.
  3. Unwavering from a course of action.

Origin

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.

Forms

more intent most intent entent

Related

for all intents and purposes intend intense intensive intention intently intent on to all intents and purposes with intent

Noun

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

Forms

intents entent

Derived

authorial intent declaration of intent direct intent intent filter intentful intentness letter of intent malintent mopery with intent to creep mopery with intent to gawk nonintent oblique intent possession with intent to supply statement of intent subintent transferred intent unintent