purpose

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Synonyms 1.2.1.2 Derived terms 1.2.1.3 Translations 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Verb 1.3.1.1 Derived terms 1.3.1.2 Synonyms 1.3.1.3 Translations 1.4 References

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈpɜrpəs/, SAMPA: /"p3rp@s/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Etymology 1

From Middle English purpos, from Old French purposer (“‘to propose’”), from Latin prō (“‘forth’”) + pausāre, present active infinitive of pausō (“‘halt, cease, pause’”).

[edit] Noun

purpose (plural purposes)

1. An object to be reached; a target; an aim; a goal.
2. A result that is desired; an intention.
3. The act of intending to do something; resolution; determination.
4. The subject of discourse; the point at issue.
5. The reason for which something is done, or the reason it is done in a particular way.

[edit] Synonyms

• (target): aim, goal, object, target
• (intention): aim, plan, intention
• (determination): determination, intention, resolution
• (subject of discourse): matter, subject, topic
• (reason for doing something): reason
• See also Wikisaurus:goal

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

to be checked

• German: Zweck m.

[edit] Etymology 2

From Middle English purposen, from Old French purposer (“‘to propose’”)

[edit] Verb

to purpose (third-person singular simple present purposes, present participle purposing, simple past and past participle purposed)

1. (transitive) Have set as one's purpose; resolve to accomplish; intend; plan.
2. (transitive) (passive) Designed for some purpose.

[edit] Derived terms

• purposed
• purposer
• purposive

[edit] Synonyms

• (have set as one's purpose): aim, intend, mean, plan, set out
• (designed for some purpose): intended

[edit] Translations

[edit] References

• “purpose” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.
• “purpose” in The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.
• “purpose” in WordNet 2.0, Princeton University, 2003.