'Purpose' definitions:
Definition of 'purpose'
From: WordNet
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" [syn: purpose, intent, intention, aim, design]
noun
What something is used for; "the function of an auger is to bore holes"; "ballet is beautiful but what use is it?" [syn: function, purpose, role, use]
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" [syn: determination, purpose]
verb
verb
Reach a decision; "he resolved never to drink again" [syn: purpose, resolve]
Definition of 'Purpose'
From: GCIDE
- 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; view; aim; design; intention; plan. [1913 Webster]
- He will his firste purpos modify. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- As my eternal purpose hath decreed. -- Milton. [1913 Webster]
- The flighty purpose never is o'ertook Unless the deed go with it. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Proposal to another; discourse. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Instance; example. [Obs.] --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: design; end; intention; aim. See Design. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Purpose'
From: GCIDE
- Purpose \Pur"pose\, v. i. To have a purpose or intention; to discourse. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Purpose'
From: GCIDE
- 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 object to be accomplished; to intend; to design; to resolve; -- often followed by an infinitive or dependent clause. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- Did nothing purpose against the state. -- Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'purpose'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- advantage,
- aim,
- aim at,
- ambition,
- animus,
- aspiration,
- aspire,
- aspire after,
- aspire to,
- avail,
- be after,
- benefit,
- by design,
- commitment,
- conclude,
- consciously,
- consider,
- contemplate,
- counsel,
- decide,
- decidedness,
- decision,
- decisiveness,
- dedication,
- definiteness,
- deliberately,
- deliberateness,
- deliberation,
- desideration,
- desideratum,
- design,
- designedly,
- desire,
- destination,
- destine,
- determinateness,
- determination,
- determine,
- determinedness,
- devotion,
- direction,
- doggedness,
- drive,
- drive at,
- duty,
- earnestness,
- effect,
- end,
- end use,
- especially,
- exactly,
- expressly,
- firmness,
- fix,
- fixed purpose,
- function,
- gain,
- go for,
- goal,
- good,
- harbor a design,
- have every intention,
- have in mind,
- have in view,
- idea,
- immediate purpose,
- in particular,
- intend,
- intendment,
- intent,
- intention,
- intentionally,
- knowingly,
- long,
- mark,
- mean,
- meaning,
- meditate,
- mind,
- mission,
- motivation,
- motive,
- nisus,
- object,
- objective,
- obstinacy,
- office,
- on purpose,
- operation,
- operational purpose,
- outcome,
- perseverance,
- persistence,
- plan,
- point,
- ponder,
- practicality,
- precisely,
- principle,
- profit,
- project,
- proposal,
- propose,
- proposition,
- prospectus,
- purport,
- purposefulness,
- purposely,
- rationale,
- reason,
- relentlessness,
- resoluteness,
- resolution,
- resolve,
- resolvedness,
- result,
- role,
- sake,
- scheme,
- seal,
- self-will,
- seriousness,
- settle,
- sincerity,
- single-mindedness,
- specially,
- specifically,
- steadfastness,
- striving,
- stubbornness,
- study,
- take a resolution,
- target,
- tenacity,
- think,
- total commitment,
- ultimate purpose,
- use,
- usefulness,
- utility,
- view,
- will,
- wittingly,
- work,
- yearn
Words containing 'Purpose'
- In purpose,
- Of purpose,
- On purpose,
- Purposed,
- Purposedly,
- Purposeful,
- Purposefully,
- Purposely,
- Purposer,
- Purposing,
- Purposive,
- purposefulness,
- Cross purpose,
- To all intents and purposes,
- all-purpose,
- at cross purposes,
- cross purposes,
- firmness of purpose,
- for all intents and purposes,
- for all practical purposes,
- sense of purpose,
- travel purposefully,
- To be at cross-purposes,
- cross-purpose,
- general-purpose,
- purpose-built,
- purpose-made,
- general-purpose bomb,
- divided divided up shared shared out on the basis of a plan or purpose