intentus

Intentus is a Latin term that functions primarily as an adjective meaning “intent, aimed at, directed.” In Latin, intentus derives from intendere, meaning to stretch toward or to direct, and agrees with the noun it modifies. While it can appear as a noun in some late Latin texts, the more common noun for “intention” in Latin is intentio.

In scholarly contexts, intentus is encountered mainly in historical and philological discussions rather than as a living, technical term in modern usage. In medieval and early modern philosophy, Latin expressions related to intentionality—the mind’s directedness toward objects or states of affairs—appear in texts that may employ intentus alongside other forms like intentio. Because contemporary discussions on intention and intentionality are typically conducted in modern languages, intentus is usually cited as part of Latin phraseology rather than as a standalone technical term.

In legal and rhetorical contexts, the form may occasionally surface in Latin passages, but it is not a standard modern legal term. Modern law typically uses English vocabulary such as “intent” or “intentional act” or references to mens rea in historical discussions rather than relying on intentus.

Today, intentus survives mainly as a lexical item of interest to linguists, classicists, and historians of philosophy. It serves as an example of how Latin expresses purposive or directed mental states and mood, rather than as a widely used or current technical concept.