purpose

purpose
I
(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)
n. intention, determination, resolution, resolve; end, aim, view.
II
(Roget's IV) n.
1. [Aim]
Syn. intention, end, goal, mission, objective, object, idea, design, hope, resolve, meaning, view, scope, deSire, dream, expectation, ambition, intent, destination, direction, scheme, prospect, proposal, target, aspiration; see also plan 2 .
2. [Resolution]
Syn. tenacity, constancy, persistence; see confidence 2 , determination 2 , faith 1 .
• on purpose,
Syn. purposefully, intentionally, designedly; see deliberately .
• to good purpose,
Syn. profitably, usefully, advantageously; see helpfully .
• to little ( or [m1]• no) purpose,
Syn. profitlessly, uselessly, worthlessly; see unnecessarily .
• to the purpose,
Syn. to the point, pertinent, apt; see relevant .
Syn.- purpose connotes a defined or specific resolution or determination in the plan had in mind [ I have a purpose in writing you ] ; intention is the general word implying a having something in mind as a plan or design, or referring to the plan had in mind; intent , a somewhat formal term common in legal usage, connotes more deliberation [ assault with intent to kill ] ; aim refers to a specific intention and connotes a directing of all efforts toward this [ his aim is to become a doctor ] ; goal suggests laborious effort in striving to attain something [ the presidency was the goal of his ambition ] ; end emphasizes the final result one hopes to achieve as distinct from the process of achieving it [ does a deSirable end ever justify the use of immoral means? ] ; object is used of an end that is the direct result of a need or deSire [ the object of the discussion was to arouse controversy ] ; objective refers to a specific end that is capable of being reached [ her immediate objective is to pass the course ] v.
Syn. intend, aim, plan, propose; see intend 1 .
See Synonym Study at intend .
III
(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.
1. intention aim, intent, object, objective, motivation, motive, goal, design, reason, plan, driving, force, point.
2. determination resolve, will, single-mindedness, drive, persistence, tenacity.
IV
(Roget's Thesaurus II) I noun 1. The proper activity of a person or thing: function, job, role, task. See DO. 2. What one intends to do or achieve: aim, ambition, design, end, goal, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, point, target, view, why. Idioms: end in view, why and wherefore. See PLANNED, PURPOSE. 3. Unwavering firmness of character, action, or will: decidedness, decision, decisiveness, determination, firmness, pur-posefulness, resoluteness, resolution, resolve, toughness, will, willpower. See CERTAIN, STRONG. II verb To have in mind as a goal or purpose: aim, contemplate, design, intend, mean1, plan, project, propose, target. Regional: mind. See PLANNED, PURPOSE.

English dictionary for students. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • Purpose — Pur pose, n. [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;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • purpose — [pʉr′pəs] vt., vi. purposed, purposing [ME purposen < OFr porposer, var. of proposer: see PROPOSE] to intend, resolve, or plan n. [ME < OFr porpos] 1. something one intends to get or do; intention; aim 2. resolution; determination …   English World dictionary

  • purpose — pur·pose / pər pəs/ n: an objective, effect, or result aimed at or attained; specif: the business activity in which a corporation is chartered to engage pur·pose·ful / fəl/ adj pur·pose·ful·ly adv pur·pose·ful·ness n Merriam Webster’s Dicti …   Law dictionary

  • purpose — [n1] intention, meaning, aim ambition, animus, aspiration, big idea*, bourn, calculation, design, desire, destination, determination, direction, dream, drift, end, expectation, function, goal, hope, idea, intendment, intent, mecca, mission,… …   New thesaurus

  • Purpose — Pur pose, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Purposed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Purposing}.] [OF. purposer, proposer. See {Propose}.] 1. To set forth; to bring forward. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. To propose, as an aim, to one s self; to determine upon, as some end or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • purpose — late 13c., from O.Fr. porpos aim, intention (12c.), from porposer to put forth, from por forth (from L. pro forth ) + O.Fr. poser to put, place (see POSE (Cf. pose)). On purpose by design is attested from 1580s; earlier of purpose …   Etymology dictionary

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  • Purpose — Pur pose, v. i. To have a purpose or intention; to discourse. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • purpose — n *intention, intent, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal Analogous words: *ambition, aspiration: proposition, *proposal: *plan, project, scheme purpose vb propose, design, *intend, mean Anal …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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