intentive

I1N1T1E1N1T1I1V4E1
/ɪnˈtɛntɪv/

adjective

Paying attention; attentive, heedful.

OriginMiddle English ententif ← Old French ententif ← Late Latin intentīvus →
Scrabble 12
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Meanings

adjectiveintentive (comparative more intentive, superlative most intentive)

comparative more intentive · superlative most intentive · alternative ententive

  1. Paying attention; attentive, heedful.

    the object is fine and accurate , it conduceth much to have the sense intentive and erect

    1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “III. Century.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC
  2. Intent (of the mind, thoughts etc.).

    To which whilest she lent her intentive mind, / He suddenly his net upon her threw […]

    1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC
  3. grammarExpressing intent.

Origin

  1. Latinintendō“to intend, to attend”
  2. Late Latinintentīvus“intensive”
  3. Old Frenchententif
  4. Middle Englishententif
  5. Englishintentive

From Middle English ententif, borrowed from Old French ententif, from Late Latin intentīvus (“intensive”), from Latin intendō (“to intend, to attend”).

More words from Middle English, Old French, Late Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with intentive

incentiveinventivedisincentivefientive
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

intentive. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/intentive

MLA

“intentive.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/intentive. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “intentive,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/intentive.

Source: intentive on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.