purpose
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈpɝpəs/
ipa: /ˈpɜːpəs/
rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)pəs
ipa: /ˈpɜ.pəs/
ipa: /ˈpɜ.poʊs/
note: Dublin
ipa: /ˈpʊː(ɹ)pəs/
Forms: form: purposes
form: purposing
form: purposed
form: purposed
Etymology: From Middle English purposen, from Old French purposer (“to propose”).
Senses: examples: text: 1485 – Thomas Malory. Le Morte Darthur, Book X, Chapter xxxvi, leaf 235v
Soo was Alysander purposed to ryde to london by the coūceille of sire Tristram to syre Launcelot /
"So was Alisander purposed to ride to London, by the counsel of Sir Tristram, to Sir Launcelot."
text: Our gracious Ancestors, however, purposed Nothing, against these their ancient and implacable Enemies, save what was necessary and indispensable, with respect to their own Preservation.
ref: 1761, Henry Brooke, The Tryal of the Roman Catholics of Ireland, page 139:
text: 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.
ref: 1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter I, in The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume I, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 1:
text: […] and because you look not to hear of your well-doing of man, I am purposed to pass it over with silence, and to give myself presently to that which is more profitable unto you; […]
ref: 1853, John Bradford, Aubrey Townsend, The Writings of John Bradford, Banner of Truth, page 52:
text: ERIPHYLE: He splits my skull, not in a friendly way,
Once more: he purposes to kill me dead.
CHORUS: I would not be reputed rash, but yet
I doubt if all be gay within the house.
ref: 1883, A. E. Housman, Fragment of a Greek Tragedy:
text: Whatever you would call "suffering" in your own life, God has allowed it. Even purposed it. Don't you dare think you can't handle it! First Corinthians 10:13 promises that you can not only handle it, but glorify God in it.
ref: 2011 September 7, Joni Eareckson Tada, Glorious Intruder: God's Presence in Life's Chaos, Multnomah, →ISBN, page 123:
glosses: To have or set as one's purpose or aim; resolve to accomplish; intend; plan.
examples: text: Upon my ſoul, / You may beleeve him: nor did he ere purpoſe / To me but nobly;[…]
ref: 1622 May 24 (licensing date), John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, “The Prophetesse”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act IV, scene ii, page 39, column 2:
glosses: To have (an) intention, purpose, or design; to intend; to mean.
examples: text: Whom ouertaking, ſhe in merry ſort
Them gan to bord, and purpoſe diuerſly,[…]
ref: 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 366:
text: Wherein, as yee heape vp the names of a number of men not vnworthy to bee had in honour; ſo there are a number whom when yee mention, although it ſerue yee to purpoſe with the ignorant and vulgar ſort, who meaſure by tale and not by waight, yet ſurely they who know what qualitie and value the men are of, will thinke yee drawe very neare the dregs.
ref: 1594, Richard Hooker, “A Preface to Them that Seeke (as They Terme It) the Reformation of Lawes and Orders Ecclesiasticall, in the Church of England”, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], 3rd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, book I:
glosses: To discourse.
Synonyms: sense: have set as one's purpose
word: aim
sense: have set as one's purpose
word: intend
sense: have set as one's purpose
word: mean
sense: have set as one's purpose
word: plan
sense: have set as one's purpose
word: set out
sense: designed for some purpose
word: intend
Derived terms: purposed
purposer
purposive
on purpose