intendere

Intendere is an Italian verb with several closely related meanings centered on direction of mind and communication. The primary senses are to intend or to have in mind as a plan or aim, and to mean or signify what one is saying. It also appears with the sense of understanding or perceiving in certain contexts, especially in discourse.

Etymology and development. Intendere comes from the Latin intendĕre, formed from in- “toward, into” and tendĕre “to stretch, aim.” In Italian, the verb developed a wide range of uses that connect planning, meaning, and comprehension. Its reflexive form intendersi can express mutual understanding or agreement.

Conjugation and forms. Intendere is a regular -ere verb, with a characteristic stem change in the present tense: io intendo, tu intendi, lui/lei intende, noi intendiamo, voi intendete, loro intendono. The imperfect is intendevo/intendevi/intendeva/intendevamo/intendevate/intendevano; future forms are intenderò, intenderai, intenderà, intenderemo, intenderete, intenderanno. The past participle is inteso, and the gerund is intendendo. The verb often appears with di o che to link to what is meant or intended, as in intendo dire (I mean to say) or che cosa intendi fare (what do you intend to do).

Usage notes and nuances. The core sense remains “to intend” or “to mean,” but intendere is also used to express understanding or interpretation in phrases like cosa intendi dire? or non intendo dire that conveys nuance similar to “I don’t mean to imply.” The reflexive intendersi can denote mutual understanding (ci siamo intesi) or reach an agreement (intendersi su un punto). In everyday Italian, capire is more common for basic understanding, while intendere emphasizes intention, meaning, or stated purpose.

See also. Related verbs include intendere’s reflexive intendersi, and the more general capire for cognitive understanding.

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