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intention

intention

148 3.3
A serious aim to start a romantic relationship, often to marry
  • noun
  • /ɪnˈtɛnʃən/
translation icon : intenciones
  • I am not ashamed that I've got a good job... and I have every intention of keeping it and getting a better one.
  • declare his intentions
  • announce his intentions
  • true intentions

I've made my intentions very clear, very clear.

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Examples

  • That depends on what your intentions are.

  • What are your intentions with my father?

  • Make your intentions clear from the beginning.

  • Find out what his intentions are.

  • It's just that everything I do with the best intentions seems to turn out badly.

  • And so in the presence of the church, I ask you to state your intentions.

  • Then at once, it occurred to me that her intentions might be rather different from mine.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • You have expressed your intentions, and now I would like to write about my wishes.

    Academic text (1993)
  • I've made my intentions very clear, very clear.

  • You should always make your intentions clear when starting a serious relationship.

Synonyms

intent
vsintention
417 3.4

The reason someone does or says something

is mainly used for aims about marriage or serious romantic relationships

Antonyms

71 4.6

Lack of interest or concern about something

1 5.6

Not taking sides because of personal feelings when deciding

How Serious

proposal
44 2.9
intention
148 3.3
dating
357 1.6
to interest
206 1.0
flirtation
28 3.5

Surface Forms

intention singular
intentions plural

Morphology

intention = intend (transparent) = intend + tion + ion

The word 'intention' is transparently derived from 'intend' with the addition of the suffix 'ion' to form a noun.

Etymology

The word intention comes from the old Latin verb tendere meaning 'to aim', the same root as intend, so when people talk about someone's 'intentions' in love they mean that person's real aim or serious plan, for example to marry.