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

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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

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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

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