PURPOSE

determination, purpose

(noun) the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose; “his determination showed in his every movement”; “he is a man of purpose”

function, purpose, role, use

(noun) what something is used for; “the function of an auger is to bore holes”; “ballet is beautiful but what use is it?”

purpose, intent, intention, aim, design

(noun) an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions; “his intent was to provide a new translation”; “good intentions are not enough”; “it was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs”; “he made no secret of his designs”

purpose, resolve

(verb) reach a decision; “he resolved never to drink again”

aim, purpose, purport, propose

(verb) propose or intend; “I aim to arrive at noon”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

---

Etymology 1

Noun

purpose (countable and uncountable, plural purposes)

An objective to be reached; a target; an aim; a goal.

A result that is desired; an intention.

The act of intending to do something; resolution; determination.

The subject of discourse; the point at issue.

The reason for which something is done, or the reason it is done in a particular way.

(obsolete) Instance; example.

Synonyms

• (target): aim, goal, object, target; See also Thesaurus:goal

• (intention): aim, plan, intention; See also Thesaurus:intention

• (determination): determination, intention, resolution

• (subject of discourse): matter, subject, topic

• (reason for doing something): reason

Hyponyms

• common purpose

• metapurpose

Etymology 2

Verb

purpose (third-person singular simple present purposes, present participle purposing, simple past and past participle purposed)

(transitive) To have set as one's purpose; resolve to accomplish; intend; plan.

(transitive, passive) To design for some purpose.

(obsolete, intransitive) To discourse.

Synonyms

• (have set as one's purpose): aim, intend, mean, plan, set out

• (designed for some purpose): intended

Source: Wiktionary

---

Pur"pose, n. Etym: [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; view; aim; design; intention; plan. He will his firste purpos modify. Chaucer. As my eternal purpose hath decreed. Milton. The flighty purpose never is o'ertook Unless the deed go with it. Shak.

2. Proposal to another; discourse. [Obs.] Spenser.

3. Instance; example. [Obs.] L'Estrange. In purpose, Of purpose, On purpose, with previous design; with the mind directed to that object; intentionally. On purpose is the form now generally used.

Syn.

– design; end; intention; aim. See Design.

Pur"pose, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Purposing.] Etym: [OF. purposer, proposer. See Propose.]

1. To set forth; to bring forward. [Obs.]

2. To propose, as an aim, to one's self; to determine upon, as some end or object to be accomplished; to intend; to design; to resolve; - - often followed by an infinitive or dependent clause. Chaucer. Did nothing purpose against the state. Shak. I purpose to write the history of England from the accession of King James the Second down to a time which is within the memory of men still living. Macaulay.

Pur"pose, v. i.

Definition: To have a purpose or intention; to discourse. [Obs.] Spenser.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

---

Do you know this game?

Wordscapes is a popular word game consistently in the top charts of both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The Android version has more than 10 million installs. This guide will help you get more coins in less than two minutes of playing the game. Continue reading Wordscapes: Get More Coins