Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IN-TEN'I-BLE, a.

That can not be held. [See Untenable.] Shak.

IN-TENS'ATE, v.t.

To make intense, or more intense.

IN-TENS'A-TING, ppr.

Making intense, or more intense.

IN-TENSE', a. [intens'; L. intensus, from intendo, to stretch.]

1. Literally, strained, stretched; hence, very close, strict, as when the mind is fixed or bent on a particular subject; as, intense study or application; intense thought.
2. Raised to a high degree; violent; vehement; as, intense heat.
3. Very severe or keen; as, intense cold.
4. Vehement; ardent; as, intense phrases in language.
5. Extreme in degree. The doctrine of the atonement supposes that the sins of men were so laid on Christ, that his sufferings were inconceivably intense and overwhelming. S. E. Dwight.
6. Kept on the stretch; anxiously attentive; opposed to remiss. Milton.

IN-TENSE'LY, adv. [intens'ly.]

1. To an extreme degree; vehemently; as, a furnace intensely heated; weather intensely cold.
2. Attentively; earnestly. Spenser.

IN-TENSE'NESS, n. [intens'ness.]

1. The state of being strained or stretched; intensity; as, the intenseness of a cord.
2. The state of being raised or concentrated to a great degree; extreme violence; as, the intenseness of heat or cold.
3. Extreme closeness; as, the intenseness of study or thought.

IN-TENS'I-FI-ED, pp.

Made more intense.

IN-TENS'I-FY, v.t.

To render more intense. Bacon.

IN-TENS'I-FY-ING, ppr.

Rendering more intense.

IN-TEN'SION, n. [L. intensio.]

1. A straining, stretching or bending; the state of being strained; as, the intension of a musical string.
2. Increase of power or energy of any quality; opposed to remission.

IN-TENS'I-TY, n. [Fr. intensité.]

1. The state of being strained or stretched; intenseness, as of a musical cord.
2. The state of being raised to a great degree; extreme violence; as, the intensity of heat.
3. Extreme closeness; as, intensity of application.
4. Excess; extreme degree; as, the intensity of guilt. Burke.

IN-TENS'IVE, a.

1. Stretched, or admitting of extension.
2. Intent; unremitted; assiduous; as, intensive circumspecttion. Wotton.
3. Serving to give force or emphasis; as, an intensive particle or preposition.

IN-TENS'IVE-LY, adv.

By increase of degree; in a manner to give force. Bramhall.

IN-TENT', a. [L. intentus, from intendo. See Intend.]

Literally, having the mind strained or bent on an object; hence, fixed closely; sedulously applied; eager in pursuit of an object; anxiously diligent; formerly with to, but now with on; as, intent on business or pleasure; intent on the acquisition of science. Be intent and solicitous to take up the meaning of the speaker. Watts.

IN-TENT', n.

Literally, the stretching of the mind toward an object; hence, a design; a purpose; intention; meaning; drift; aim; applied to persons or things. The principal intent of Scripture is to deliver the laws of duties supernatural. Hooker. I ask therefore, for what intent ye have sent for me? Acts x. To all intents, in all senses; whatever may be designed. He was miserable to all intents and purposes. L'Estrange.

IN-TEN'TION, n. [Fr. from of intentio. See Intend.]

1. Primarily, a stretching or bending of the mind toward an object; hence, uncommon exertion of the intellecutal faculties; closeness of application; fixedness of attention; earnestness. Intention is when the mind, with great earnestness and of choice, fixes its view on any idea, considers it on every side, and will not he called off by the ordinary solicitation of other Ideas. Locke.
2. Design; purpose; the fixed direction of the mind to a particular object, or a determination to act in a particular manner. It is my intention to proceed to Paris.
3. End or aim; the object to be accomplished. In chronical distempers, the principal intention is to restore the tone of the solid parts. Arbuthnot.
4. The state of being strained. [See Intension.]

IN-TEN'TION-AL, a.

Intended; designed; done with design or purpose. The act was intentional, not accidental.

IN-TEN'TION-AL-LY, adv.

By design; of purpose; not casually.

IN-TEN'TION-ED, a.

In composition; as, well-intentioned, having good designs, honest in purpose; ill-intentioned, having ill designs. Milner. Ch. Obs.

IN-TENT'IVE, a.

Attentive; having the mind closely applied. Bacon. [This word is nearly superseded by attentive.]

IN-TENT'IVE-LY, adv.

Closely; with close application. Bp. Hall.

IN-TENT'IVE-NESS, n.

Closeness of attention or application of mind. W. Mountagu.

IN-TENT'LY, adv.

With close attention or application; with eagerness or earnestness; as, the mind intently directed to an object; the eyes intently fixed; the man is intently employed in the study of geology.

IN-TENT'NESS, n.

The state of being intent; close application; constant employment of the mind. Swift.

IN'TER, prep.

a Latin preposition, signifying among or between; used as a prefix.