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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Intent, n. [ME. intent (13–14th c.), var. of earlier entent(e Entent n.]

1. One's intention, design, or purpose. = Entent 1. c1420 Wynt. I. 598.
Quhen he saw all that thai wrought Tyll his intent yhit suffycyde it noucht Ib. viii. 5438.
[He] folowyd his purpos … Quhill he had his intent playnly ?1438 Alex. II. 2433.
Ask ȝour intent and ȝour zele At ȝour king a1500 Rauf C. 728.
The King fell in carping and tauld his intent 15.. Clar. iv. 2228.
Thocht ȝe know not quhat the lordis ment, Ȝe know … quhat is ȝour awin intent c1552 Lynd. Mon. 248.
That heuinlye Muse to seik my hole intent is 1570 Leslie 15.
That thay micht the better get thair intent execut a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1474.
Our full intent is now To haif ȝe hale 1614 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 126.
Thair is stuff aneuch in it to hurt ȝour mortificatioun and by umquhill Doctour Liddells intent

2. a. Without possessive pronoun. Usually with adj., as full, gude, hale, etc. = Entent 2, 2 b.(1) c1420 Wynt. v. 4534.
He dyd noucht the sacrament Wyth detfull wordys and intent Ib. 4539.
In gud intent He tuk that haly sacrament Ib. 5258.
The Devil come in full intent For til fand hym wytht argument Ib. viii. 8.
Scho gave byddyng with hale intent a1500 Henr. Fab. 2615.
Thus drank thai baith, but not of ane intent 1535 Stewart 29612.
He … his vices did repent, Confessand him with ane clene intent c1552 Lynd. Mon. 895.
Satan, with ane fals intent, Did enter into that serpent a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxlviii. 40.
Mercie is neuer put out of meik intent a1585 Maitl. Q. xxiv. 23.
Instructand me … to repent with trew intent(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 6.
Baith in werk, word, and eik intent a1568 Scott. iii. 11.
Facound of wordis, bot feckill of intent

b. In phrases with in, in till, for, to, denoting purpose. = Entent 2 c. c1420 Wynt. iv. 664.
In tyll intent for tyll have bene Revengyd off his fayis kene Ib. v. 2004.
In intent that destyne Off thare goddys suld brokyn be Ib. vi. 108.
The decretale … That the … Pape made in that intent Prynsys to ken how [etc.] 1505 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 105.
For that intent thai haif namit and chosin Thomas Glendunwyne thair belman 1535 Stewart 21772.
Ilkane … passit till array, In that intent sone vther till assay 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 24.
To this intent thai mak thame to set up the quenis authoritie

3. Mind, disposition, natural bent. = Entent 3. c1420 Wynt. v. 2048.
Hys fadrys bart and hys intent Wes hale inclynyd baptysme to ta Ib. vii. 2014.
How ilkane kest in thaire intent Thare wes na certane jwgement a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 116.
Cresseid, heuie in hir intent, Into the kirk wald not hir self present c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlvii. 20.
Full weill is him that may … his hairt consent, To turne to trew luue his intent 1535 Stewart 29390.
Adanus … In Saxone langage wes nocht richt perfyte, The quhilk to him wes greit impediment To schaw to thame quhat wes in his intent c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5264.
Perturb nocht thyne intent, To knaw day, hour, or moment a1570-86 Maitl. F. xxiii. 25.
Be blythe and glad ay in thy intent Ib. xcvii. 49.
With mouthe we say we luif the Lord, And far fra him in oure intent

b. To set one's intent. = Entent 3 b. c1420 Wynt. I. 25.
Allsua set I myne intent … Thare matere in tyll fowrme to drawe Ib. v. 4807.
He … To mak lawys set hys intent ?1438 Alex. ii. 5364.
He on hie cheualry Set his intent and his etling 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. vii.
Thir courtlie gallandis settand thair intentis To sing 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 97.
Ilk nobill set his hole intent To be excellent in habilȝement c1552 Id. Mon. 394.
Quhy do we set so our intentis On ryches, dignitie, and rentis?

4. In law (after the verb): The pursuer's claim in a suit. c1575 Balfour Pract. 373.
Efter that the partie has chosen ane certain nombre of witnessis for preiving of his intent, he may not … desire ony ma nor thame allanerlie quhom he has chosin 1622-6 Bisset I. 214/28.
Diverse tymes pairties ar deferred … of obtening of there intenttis and sentences in there iust actionis 1618 Crim. Trials III. 444.
He had affirmet … that gif he gat nocht his intent befoir the justice … he sould wair his mother sone vpon him also