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intend (v.)

c. 1300, entenden, "direct one's attention to, pay attention, give heed," from Old French entendre, intendre "to direct one's attention" (in Modern French principally "to hear"), from Latin intendere "turn one's attention, strain (in quest of something), be zealous," literally "stretch out, extend," from in- "toward" (from PIE root *en "in") + tendere "to stretch," from PIE root *ten- "to stretch."

Sense of "have as a plan, have in mind or purpose" (late 14c.) was present in Latin. A Germanic word for this was ettle, from Old Norse ætla "to think, conjecture, propose," from Proto-Germanic *ahta "consideration, attention" (source also of Old English eaht, German acht). Related: Intended; intending.

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Definitions of intend from WordNet

intend (v.)
have in mind as a purpose;
Synonyms: mean / think
intend (v.)
design or destine;
She was intended to become the director
Synonyms: destine / designate / specify
intend (v.)
mean or intend to express or convey;
what do his words intend?
Synonyms: mean
intend (v.)
denote or connote;
Synonyms: mean / signify / stand for
From wordnet.princeton.edu