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Glite Dictionary
intendment

intendment

9.9
The meaning people give to a law or document
  • noun
  • /ɪnˈtɛndmənt/
  • Archaic
translation icon : intención
  • The intendment of the law is to protect the rights of all citizens.

Examples

  • In legal documents, the intendment behind the wording can influence the outcome of a case.

  • Ay, and said nothing but what I protest intendment of doing.

    Othello (1995)

  • The court clarified the intendment of the statute to ensure justice was served.

Synonyms

intention
vsintendment
709 2.2

A plan or purpose for what you will do

focuses on meaning as read in legal documents and statutes
intent
vsintendment
417 3.4

The reason someone does or says something

focuses on meaning as read in legal documents and statutes

Antonyms

ambiguity
57 6.3

A lack of clear meaning that allows people to understand it in different ways

How Clear

purpose
∞ 1.6
meaning
890 1.0
intendment
  • Archaic
9.9
intention
709 2.2
implication
308 4.3

Surface Forms

intendment singular
intendments plural

Morphology

intendment = intend (semi-transparent) = intend + ment

The word is directly built from 'intend' + '-ment' so the basic meaning 'intention' is clear, but the term is formal/legal and somewhat rare, so learners may not fully infer its usage.

Etymology

The word intendment comes from intend, which itself comes from an old Latin verb meaning 'to stretch' and is the same root behind intention. Picture 'stretching' your mind toward a purpose; that's why intendment means the intended meaning or purpose of words, especially in law.