Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “intention” come from?

Intention comes from Middle French intention, derived from Latin intentio, formed from the prefix in- and the suffix -tio, both ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European ne.

intention (English): The goal or purpose behind a specific action or...

Definitions

  1. The goal or purpose behind a specific action or...

Ancestry of “intention”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle FrenchintentionAlternative form of entention
2Old Frenchentencionintention; intent; aim
3Latinintentiostrain, tension; increase, augmentation;...
4Latin-tiō—
5Latindissertātiō—
6Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
7Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
8Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
9Latincalceusshoe
10Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
11Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “intention”

  • intentionally
  • intentional
  • unintentionally
  • unintentional
  • intentionality
  • intentioned
  • intentionalist
  • intentionalism
  • nonintentional
  • intentionalistic
  • intentionless
  • unintentionality
  • nonintentionally
  • intentionalistically
  • unintentionalness
  • nonintentionalistic
  • misintention
  • entention
  • counter-intention
  • ill-intentioned
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →