Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DE-SIGN', v.t. [desi'ne; L. designo; de and signo, to seal or stamp, that is, to set or throw; Sp. designar, diseñar; It. designare, disegnare; Fr. designer, dessiner.]

1. To delineate a form or figure by drawing the outline; to sketch; as in painting and other works of art.
2. To plan; to form an outline or representation of any thing. Hence,
3. To project; to form in idea, as a scheme. Hence,
4. To purpose or intend; as, a man designs to write an essay, or to study law.
5. To mark out by tokens. [Not used.] – Locke.
6. To intend to apply or appropriate; with for; as, we design this ground for a garden, and that for a park. The word design may include an adapting or planning a thing for a purpose, or mere intention or scheme of the mind, which implies a plan. The father designs his son for the profession of the law, or for the ministry. It was formerly followed by to, but this use is now uncommon.