Intention, n.
Etymology: [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.]
3 more senses
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.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for intention; he lists it under aim, design.
Where he writes about it:
Aspiration applies to what are viewed as noble aims; endeavor, design, intention, purpose, indifferently to the best or worst. — from aim
Purpose is stronger than intention. — from aim
Intention is simply the more familiar form of the legal and philosophical intent. — from design
A man comes to a fixed intention to kill his enemy; he forms a plan to entrap him into his power, with the design of then compassing his death; as the law can not read the heart, it can only infer the intent from the evidences of design. — from design
Intent denotes a straining, stretching forth toward an object; purpose simply the placing it before oneself; hence, we speak of the purpose rather than the intent or intention of God. — from design
Intention contemplates the possibility of failure; purpose looks to assured success; intent or intention refers especially to the state of mind of the actor; purpose to the result of the action. — from design