purpose
-
/perr"peuhs/, n., v., purposed, purposing.n.1. the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.2. an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.3. determination; resoluteness.4. the subject in hand; the point at issue.5. practical result, effect, or advantage: to act to good purpose.6. on purpose, by design; intentionally: How could you do such a thing on purpose?7. to the purpose, relevant; to the point: Her objections were not to the purpose.v.t.8. to set as an aim, intention, or goal for oneself.9. to intend; design.10. to resolve (to do something): He purposed to change his way of life radically.v.i.11. to have a purpose.[1250-1300; (n.) ME purpos < OF, deriv. of purposer, var. of proposer to PROPOSE; (v.) ME purposen < AF, OF purposer]
* * *
Universalium. 2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Purpose — is the cognitive awareness in cause and effect linking for achieving a goal in a given system, whether human or machine. Its most general sense is the anticipated result which guides decision making in choosing appropriate actions within a range… … Wikipedia
purpose — UK US /ˈpɜːpəs/ noun ► [C] the reason for doing something or the reason that something exists: sb s purpose in doing sth »My purpose in calling this meeting was to remind everyone of some basic rules. with/for the purpose of (doing) sth »He… … Financial and business terms
Purpose — Pur pose, n. [OF. purpos, pourpos, propos, L. propositum. See {Propound}.] 1. That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure, or exertion;… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
purpose — [pʉr′pəs] vt., vi. purposed, purposing [ME purposen < OFr porposer, var. of proposer: see PROPOSE] to intend, resolve, or plan n. [ME < OFr porpos] 1. something one intends to get or do; intention; aim 2. resolution; determination … English World dictionary
purpose — pur·pose / pər pəs/ n: an objective, effect, or result aimed at or attained; specif: the business activity in which a corporation is chartered to engage pur·pose·ful / fəl/ adj pur·pose·ful·ly adv pur·pose·ful·ness n Merriam Webster’s Dicti … Law dictionary
purpose — [n1] intention, meaning, aim ambition, animus, aspiration, big idea*, bourn, calculation, design, desire, destination, determination, direction, dream, drift, end, expectation, function, goal, hope, idea, intendment, intent, mecca, mission,… … New thesaurus
Purpose — Pur pose, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Purposed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Purposing}.] [OF. purposer, proposer. See {Propose}.] 1. To set forth; to bring forward. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. To propose, as an aim, to one s self; to determine upon, as some end or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
purpose — late 13c., from O.Fr. porpos aim, intention (12c.), from porposer to put forth, from por forth (from L. pro forth ) + O.Fr. poser to put, place (see POSE (Cf. pose)). On purpose by design is attested from 1580s; earlier of purpose … Etymology dictionary
purpose — ► NOUN 1) the reason for which something is done or for which something exists. 2) resolve or determination. ► VERB formal ▪ have as one s objective. ● on purpose Cf. ↑on purpose ORIGIN … English terms dictionary
Purpose — Pur pose, v. i. To have a purpose or intention; to discourse. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
purpose — n *intention, intent, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal Analogous words: *ambition, aspiration: proposition, *proposal: *plan, project, scheme purpose vb propose, design, *intend, mean Anal … New Dictionary of Synonyms
