Purpose, n.
Etymology: [OF. purpos, pourpos, propos, L. propositum. See Propound.]
1. That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure, or exertion; view; aim; design; intention; plan. He will his firste purpos modify. Chaucer. As my eternal purpose hath decreed. Milton. The flighty purpose never is o'ertook Unless the deed go with it. Shak.
2. Proposal to another; discourse. [Obs.] Spenser.
3. Instance; example. [Obs.] L'Estrange. In purpose, Of purpose, On purpose, with previous design; with the mind directed to that object; intentionally. On purpose is the form now generally used.
Syn. -- design; end; intention; aim. See Design.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Purpose, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Purposing.]
1. To set forth; to bring forward. [Obs.]
2. To propose, as an aim, to one's self; to determine upon, as some end or object to be accomplished; to intend; to design; to resolve; - - often followed by an infinitive or dependent clause. Chaucer. Did nothing purpose against the state. Shak. I purpose to write the history of England from the accession of King James the Second down to a time which is within the memory of men still living. Macaulay.
Purpose, v. i.
To have a purpose or intention; to discourse. [Obs.] Spenser.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for purpose; he lists it under aim, design, end, idea, reason.
Where he writes about it:
Aspiration, design, endeavor, purpose, referring to the mental acts by which the aim is attained, are often used as interchangeable with aim. — from aim
Aspiration applies to what are viewed as noble aims; endeavor, design, intention, purpose, indifferently to the best or worst. — from aim
Aspiration has less of decision than the other terms; one may aspire to an object, and yet lack the fixedness of purpose by which alone it can be attained. — from aim
Purpose is stronger than intention. — from aim
Design refers to the adaptation of means to an end, the correspondence and coordination of parts, or of separate acts, to produce a result; intent and purpose overleap all particulars, and fasten on the end itself. — 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