purpose

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The object toward which one strives or for which something exists; an aim or a goal: "And ever those, who would enjoyment gain/Must find it in the purpose they pursue” ( Sarah Josepha Hale).
2. n. A result or effect that is intended or desired; an intention. See Synonyms at intention.
3. n. Determination; resolution: He was a man of purpose.
4. n. The matter at hand; the point at issue.
5. v. To intend or resolve to perform or accomplish.
6. idiom. on purpose Intentionally; deliberately.
7. idiom. to good purpose With good results.
8. idiom. little With few or no results.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To propose; intend; design; mean: generally with an infinitive.
2. To resolve; determine, or determine on.
3. Synonyms To mean, meditate.
4. To have intention or design; intend; mean.
5. To discourse.
6. n. A thing proposed or intended; an object to be kept in view or subserved in any operation or course of action; end proposed; aim.
7. n. Proposition; proposal; point to be considered or acted upon.
8. n. Hence Intended or desired effect; practical advantage or result; use; subject or matter in hand; question at issue: as, to speak to the purpose.
9. n. Intention; design; resolve; resolution; determination.
10. n. Import; meaning: purport; intent.
11. n. Discourse; conversation.
12. n. Instance; example.
13. n. plural A sort of conversational game. Compare cross-purpose, 2.
14. n. A dance resembling a cotillion, a characteristic feature of which was the introduction of confidential or coquettish conversation.
15. n. In biology, the result which a structure tends to secure, without any reference to an intelligent agent.

Wiktionary

1. v. transitive Have set as one's purpose; resolve to accomplish; intend; plan.
2. v. transitive (passive) Designed for some purpose.
3. v. obsolete, intransitive To have a purpose or intention; to discourse.
4. n. An object to be reached; a target; an aim; a goal.
5. n. A result that is desired; an intention.
6. n. The act of intending to do something; resolution; determination.
7. n. The subject of discourse; the point at issue.
8. n. The reason for which something is done, or the reason it is done in a particular way.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. 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.
2. n. obsolete Proposal to another; discourse.
3. n. obsolete Instance; example.
4. v. obsolete To set forth; to bring forward.
5. v. 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.
6. v. obsolete To have a purpose or intention; to discourse.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
2. v. propose or intend
3. v. reach a decision
4. n. what something is used for
5. n. the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose