intendment
Very LowFormal, Archaic, Legal
Definition
Meaning
The intention, purpose, or meaning behind something, especially a law, document, or act.
In legal contexts, the true purpose or spirit of a law as opposed to its literal wording. More generally, the deliberate aim or objective.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a legal term, now largely obsolete outside historical or very formal legal writing. It refers to the underlying purpose or intent, often contrasted with 'letter' (the literal text).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant modern difference. It is equally archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Conveys high formality, antiquity, and legal precision.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage, found primarily in historical legal texts or deliberate archaisms.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the intendment of [NOUN PHRASE]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the letter and intendment of the law”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, used only in historical or legal philosophy discussions.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Exclusively in historical legal analysis.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The court sought to discover the true intendment of the ancient statute.
- The will was interpreted according to the testator's clear intendment.
- The judge argued that the ruling violated not just the letter but the very intendment of the law.
- Legal historians debate the original intendment of the constitutional clause.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: INTENDment = what was INTENDed. It's the 'ment' (result/state) of an intent.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAW IS A LIVING ENTITY (its 'spirit' or 'intendment' is its animating purpose).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'намерение' (intention) in general contexts; it's specifically legal/formal. Avoid using it as a direct translation for 'цель' (goal/aim).
Common Mistakes
- Using it in modern, non-legal contexts.
- Confusing it with 'intent' or 'intention' without recognizing its archaic/legal weight.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'intendment' most appropriately used today?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. It is considered an archaic term, mostly replaced by 'intent', 'purpose', or 'spirit of the law'.
'Intent' is the general modern term for aim or purpose. 'Intendment' is a formal, often legal, term emphasizing the underlying or true purpose, especially of a written document.
Only if you are writing about historical or very formal legal topics. In all other contexts, it will seem affected and unnatural.
It is a noun. There are no standard verb, adjective, or adverb forms derived from it.