intend

Where does the word "intend" come from? It comes from Latin intendere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Intend’s story begins in Latin: intendere meant “to stretch toward, to aim at.” To stretch toward, to aim at, from in- (toward) and tendere (to stretch). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as entendre. Carried into French for having a purpose or aim in mind. It reached English by 1300s as intend. Settled as the English word for having a plan or purpose in mind. Today, intend means to have a plan or purpose in mind for a future action.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient intendere "to stretch toward, to aim at", to stretch toward, to aim at, from in- (toward) and tendere (to stretch).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval entendre "to have a purpose in mind", carried into French for having a purpose or aim in mind.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s intend "to have a plan or purpose in mind", settled as the English word for having a plan or purpose in mind.