intentĭo, ōnis, f. [intendo], a stretching out, straining, tension.
I Lit.: corporis, Cic. Tusc. 1, 10, 20: nervorum, Col. 6, 6: vocis, Plin. 28, 4, 14, § 53: aëris, Gell. 5, 16, 2: intentionem aëris ostendent tibi inflata, ... quid enim est vox nisi intentio aëris? Sen. Q. N. 2, 6, 3: et remissio motus, Gell. 18, 10: vultus, Tac. A. 16, 34.—
B Increase , augmentation : doloris, Sen. Ep. 78, 7: ve particula tum intentionem significat, tum minutionem, Gell. 16, 5, 5.—
II Trop., a directing of the mind towards any thing.
A Exertion , effort : animus intentione sua depellit pressum omnem ponderum, opp. remissio, Cic. Tusc. 2, 23, 54: animi, id. ib. 2, 27, 65: cogitationum, id. ib. 4, 2; id. Inv. 2, 14, 46: tantum curae intentionisque, Plin. Ep. 2, 10, 5: ut libertatem revoces, id. Pan. 78 med. : ad intentiones capiendas habiliores, Gell. 15, 2, 5.—
B Attention , application to any thing: lusūs, to play , Liv. 4, 17: intentionem alicui accommodare, Sen. Ep. 113, 3: avocare ab intentione operis destinati, Quint. 10, 3, 23: rerum, id. 6, 3, 1: rei familiaris, Plin. Ep. 1, 3, 2.—
C A design , purpose , intention : haec intentio tua ut libertatem revoces, Plin. Pan. 78: defuncti, Dig. 34, 1, 10; Ambros. de Jos. Patriarch. 11, 52; Aug. c. Mendac. 18.—
D A charge , accusation : intentio adversariorum, Cic. Inv. 2, 43, 125: judiciale genus officiis constat duobus, intentionis ac depulsionis, Quint. 3, 9, 11; 7, 1, 9.— Hence,
2 Esp., law t. t., that part of the formula or instruction given by the praetor to the court , setting forth the judgment or relief prayed for by a plaintiff in his complaint (cf. Sanders, Inst. of Just. introd. p. 65 sqq.): intentio est ea pars formulae qua actor desiderium suum concludit, Gai. Inst. 4, 41; 44 sq.; 53 sq.: cum petitor intentionem suam perdiderit, Dig. 10, 4, 9, § 6: quod intentionis vestrae proprias afferre debeatis probationes, Vet. Consult. 6, 14 Huschke.—
E The first or major premise in a syllogism: ita erit prima intentio, secunda assumptio, tertia conexio, Quint. 5, 14, 6.