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Intent vs Meaning - What's the difference?

intent | meaning | Related terms |

Intent is a related term of meaning.


As nouns the difference between intent and meaning

is that intent is a purpose; something that is intended while meaning is the symbolic value of something.

As adjectives the difference between intent and meaning

is that intent is firmly fixed or concentrated on something while meaning is having a (specified) intention.

As a verb meaning is

.

intent

English

Alternative forms

* entent (obsolete)

Noun

  • A purpose; something that is intended.
  • (legal) The state of someone’s mind at the time of committing an offence.

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Firmly fixed or concentrated on something.
  • :
  • *2014 , Daniel Taylor, " World Cup 2014: Uruguay sink England as Suárez makes his mark," guardian.co.uk , 20 June:
  • *:Uruguay were quick to the ball, strong in the tackle and seemed intent on showing they were a better team than had been apparent in their defeat to Costa Rica.
  • *
  • *:And it was while all were passionately intent upon the pleasing and snake-like progress of their uncle that a young girl in furs, ascending the stairs two at a time, peeped perfunctorily into the nursery as she passed the hallway—and halted amazed.
  • Engrossed.
  • Unwavering from a course of action.

    • Related terms

    * for all intents and purposes * intend * intense * intention * intensive * intent on * intently * to all intents and purposes * with intent

    meaning

    English

    (wikipedia meaning)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) mening, menyng, equivalent to .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The symbolic value of something.
  • *
  • *:Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ ("I never) understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."
  • The significance of a thing.
  • :
  • (lb) The objects or concept that a word or phrase denotes, or that which a sentence says.
  • (lb) Intention.
  • *(rfdate) (Sir Walter Raleigh):
  • *:It was their meaning to take what they needed by stronghand.
    • Synonyms
    * sense, definition
    Hyponyms
    * proposition
    Derived terms
    * antimeaning * meaning of life * meaningful * meaningless * meaninglessly * meaninglessness

    Etymology 2

    From .

    Verb

    (head)
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author= Lee S. Langston, magazine=(American Scientist)
    • , title= The Adaptable Gas Turbine , passage=Turbines have been around for a long time—windmills and water wheels are early examples. The name comes from the Latin turbo'', meaning ''vortex , and thus the defining property of a turbine is that a fluid or gas turns the blades of a rotor, which is attached to a shaft that can perform useful work.}}

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having a (specified) intention.
  • Expressing some intention or significance; meaningful.
  • *1839 , (Edgar Allan Poe), ‘William Wilson’:
  • *:I might, to-day, have been a better, and thus a happier man, had I less frequently rejected the counsels embodied in those meaning whispers which I then but too cordially hated and too bitterly despised.

    • Anagrams

    *