Emily Dickinson Lexicon

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.]