| 释义 |
▪ I. purpose, n.|ˈpɜːpəs|
Forms: 3–6 porpos, (4 perpos, 6 porpose, -puse); 4–6 pourpos, (4–5 pourpoos, 5–7 -pose, 6 -poose); 4–7 purpos, (4–5 Sc. -poss, 5 -poos, -pas, -passe, 6 -post, Sc. -pois, -e, -pes), (4–5) 6– purpose.
[a. AF. = OF. porpos, purpos, pourpos (12th c. in Godef.) (later propos, after L. prōpositum), f. porposer to purpose. With the forms in -e cf. OF. por-, purpose = purpos in Godef. (See also propose n.)]
I. Simple senses.
1. a. That which one sets before oneself as a thing to be done or attained; the object which one has in view.
to answer or serve one's purpose, to be of use or service in effecting one's object, to do what one wants. † to put one beside his purpose, to disappoint or defeat him in his aim (obs.). See also cross-purpose 1.
c1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 362/8 And seide, ‘mi porpos and mi wei: is nouþe to ende i-brouȝt!’ c1300Exec. Sir S. Fraser in Pol. Songs (Camden) 214 Al here purpos y-come hit ys to naht. c1325Coer de Lion 1367 Now frendes what is your perpos? 13..Cursor M. 8402 (Gött.) Neyder i kepe to gabb ne glose, Bot say þe soth es my purpose. c1384Chaucer H. Fame 377 Who-so to knowe hit hath purpos [v.rr. purpoos, purpose] Rede Virgile in Eneydos. 1390Gower Conf. III. 184 That he his pourpos myhte atteigne. c1450Merlin iii. 46, I..warned hym of Aungiers purpos. 1500–20Dunbar Poems lxvi. 27 Purpois dois change as wynd or rane. 1513Moore Rich. III 7 Oftner for ambition and to serve his purpose. 1526Tindale Mark vi. 26 For their sakes which sate att supper also he wolde not put her besyde her purpost. 1596Shakes. Merch. V. i. iii. 99 The diuell can cite Scripture for his purpose. 1782F. Burney Cecilia v. ii, It would be answering no purpose. 1842Tennyson Locksley Hall 137 Yet I doubt not thro' the ages one increasing purpose runs. 1857Maurice Ep. St. John i. 2 Either will serve our purpose.
†b. with vb. of motion implied (cf. purpose v. 4). Obs.
1401J. Hanard in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 15 Oweyn was in porpos to Kedewelly..so Oweyn changed is purpos and rode to ȝens the Baron. 1590Shakes. Mids. N. iv. i. 166 My Lord, faire Helen told me of their stealth, Of this their purpose hither. 1596― 1 Hen. IV, i. i. 102 A-while we must neglect Our holy purpose to Ierusalem.
2. a. Without a or pl. The action or fact of intending or meaning to do something; intention, resolution, determination.
c1315Shoreham i. 2040 Þay hy nolde by goud purpos Ine hare flesche werche. c1400Destr. Troy 2655 Persiueraunse of purpos may quit you to lure, Your landys to lose, & langur for euer. 1526Tindale Acts xi. 23 He..exhorted them all, thatt with purpose off hertt they wolde continually cleave vnto the lorde. 1604Shakes. Oth. iv. ii. 219 If thou hast..purpose, Courage, and Valour. 1605― Macb. ii. ii. 52 Infirme of purpose: Giue me the Daggers. 1742Young Nt. Th. ii. 89 If nothing more than purpose in thy power; Thy purpose firm is equal to the deed. 1858Froude Hist. Eng. III. xiii. 183 Honesty of purpose is no security for soundness of understanding. 1907J. R. Illingworth Doctr. Trinity i. 10 No such thing as blind or unconscious purpose is conceivable.
†b. to take purpose: to determine, resolve. Sc.
1375Barbour Bruce i. 143 He..left purpos that he had tane. 1559–66Hist. Est. Scotl. in Wodrow Soc. Misc. (1844) 78 Suddenly shee tooke purpose to pass to the Castle. a1572Knox Hist. Ref. Wks. 1846 I. 230 Thei took purpose to devid thame selfis..and to go in sindrie partes.
3. The object for which anything is done or made, or for which it exists; the result or effect intended or sought; end, aim.
1390Gower Conf. II. 100 To this pourpos and to this ende This king is redy for to wende. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cxcv. 231 So he taryed on that purpose tyll the ryuer of Marne was lowe. 1563Winȝet Four Scoir Thre Quest. (S.T.S.) I. 71 marg., Wtheris tractatis for this porpose. 1611Bible Matt. xxvi. 8 To what purpose is this waste? a1680Butler Rem. (1759) I. 3 This was the Purpose of their meeting. 1764Burn Poor Laws 197 That the laws for relieving their distresses..have not answered their purposes. 1818Cruise Digest (ed. 2) IV. 334 In all feoffments and grants the word heirs is absolutely necessary for that purpose, and cannot be supplied by any other word whatever. 1863Q. Rev. Apr. 488 He never sinks so nearly to the level of the ordinary sensation-novelist as when he is writing ‘with a purpose’. 1874Cornh. Mag. Aug. 192 His romances are not to be confused with ‘the novel with a purpose’ as familiar to the English reader. 1879Lubbock Sci. Lect. ii. 52 Are these differences merely casual and accidental or have they a meaning and a purpose? 1900F. H. Stoddard Evol. Eng. Novel v. 153 The novel of purpose. 1932Weekend Rev. 19 Mar. 371/1 This is a pity; for though Isabel is a ‘novel with a purpose’, it is also, in a high degree, a work of imagination. [Cf. purpose-novel in 14.]
†4.
a. That which one propounds; a proposition, question, or argument; a riddle; pl., a game consisting of questions and answers (cf. cross-purpose 2, cross-question n. c). Obs.
a1325Prose Psalter xlviii [xlix]. 4 Y..shal open in þe sauter myn purpose [aperiam propositionem meam]. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. ix. 115, I..putte forþ sum purpos to preuen his wittes. 1548Compl. Scot. Prol. 13 It is the nature of ane man that hes..ane ripe ingyne, that euerye purpos ande questione is familiar tyl hym. 1556T. Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer i. (1561) A iv b, Manye tymes they fell into pourposes, as we nowe a dayes terme them. 1590Spenser F.Q. iii. x. 8 Oft purposes, oft riddles, he devysd, And thousands like..With which he fed her fancy. 1611Cotgr., Opinion: Opinion..also, the prettie game which we call Purposes.
†b. Discourse, conversation: = F. propos. Obs.
a1572Knox Hist. Ref. Wks. 1846 I. 137 He called for Johne Knox,..with whome he began to enter in purpose, ‘that he weryed of the world:’ for he perceaved that men begane to weary of God. 1587Greene Tritam. ii. Wks. (Grosart) III. 128 He thought it very fit to passe away the morning with such profitable purposes. 1599Shakes. Much Ado iii. i. 12 There will she hide her, To listen our purpose.
5. That which forms or ought to form the subject of discourse; the matter in hand; the point at issue. Now only in phr. to the purpose (formerly † to purpose): see 12 a; from the purpose, away from the point (arch.).
c1386Chaucer Man of Law's T. 72 But now to purpos lat vs turne agayn. c1450Holland Howlat 39 Tharfor in haist will I hens To the purposs. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iii. x. 90 It shall not be impertinent nor out of my purpose, if I do speak..of the kitchin of the great Turke. 1597Morley Introd. Mus. 78 To talke of these proportions is in this place out of purpose. 1603Shakes. Meas. for M. ii. i. 120 Come: you are a tedious foole: to the purpose. 1653H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. xxiv. 92 He answered him so far from the purpose..like a man that had lost his judgment. 1666Pepys Diary 3 Oct., J. Minnes..said two or three words from the purpose, but to do hurt. 1703Moxon Mech. Exerc. 32 For that I did not mention it there, I thought fit (since the Purpose required it) to do it here. 1706Phillips (ed. 6), Purpose,..subject Matter of Discourse. 1868[see 12 a].
†6. Import, effect, meaning (of words); = purport n. 1; in phrase to this, that, etc. purpose.
1606Shakes. Tr. & Cr. i. iii. 264 He bad me take a Trumpet, And to this purpose speake. 1611Bible Judith xiii. 3 She spake to Bagoas according to the same purpose [1895 R.V. words]. 1712Arbuthnot John Bull i. iv, There were several old contracts to that purpose. 1726Swift Gulliver iii. iv, With other common topics to the same purpose. 1789Belsham Ess. I. 5 The advocates for philosophical liberty..reply to the following purpose:—‘As all mankind’ [etc.].
II. Phrases with prepositions.
7. a purpose, a-purpose (o' purpose) = on purpose, of purpose. (See a prep.2 2.) Now dial.
1530A. Baynton in Palsgr. Introd. 11 He hath willyngly and a purpose..taken..the greattar paynes vpon him. 1648Gage West Ind. 24 Which had been brought a purpose from Mexico. 1694R. L'Estrange Fables cccclvii. (ed. 6) 496, I came..yesterday a-purpose to tell you the Story. 1876I. Banks Manch. Man xiv, ‘An accident done a-purpose,’ chimed in Mrs. Clowes.
†8. for the purpose: for instance, for example.
a1704R. L'Estrange (J.), 'Tis common for double-dealers to be taken in their own snares, as, for the purpose, in the matter of power.
9. in purpose.
a. to be in purpose: to be minded or disposed, to intend (to do something). Also occas. to have in purpose. arch.
1340Ayenb. 115 He is ine wylle and ine porpos uor to uoryeuene..yef me him misdeþ. c1440Alphabet of Tales 262 How he was in purpos to destroy hys roalm. 1517R. Torkington Pilgr. (1884) 47 The Sawdon was in porpuse to a removyd those pyllers. a1626Bacon New Atl. (1627) 3 We were sometimes in purpose to turn back. 1630Earl of Manchester in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 271 We are in purpose to have a commission to send Councillors and Judges. 1856J. H. Newman Off. Universities i. 1, I have it in purpose to commit to paper..various thoughts of my own, seasonable, as I conceive.
†b. With the design, in order (to do something); = on purpose, 11 b. Obs.
c1400Destr. Troy 2643 If Parys..past into Grese, In purpas to pray or profet to gete. 1573L. Lloyd Marrow of Hist. (1653) 213 Certain Souldiers came..in purpose to kill his master.
10. of purpose.
a. (Also † out of purpose (obs.), of (a) set purpose.) Purposely, designedly; = on purpose, 11 a. Now rare or arch.
1432Rolls of Parlt. IV. 417 As wele with wynde dryven, as of purpos to come..to the saide Havenes. 1531Tindale Exp. 1 John ii. 1 (1573) 393 Whosoeuer sinneth of purpose after the knowledge of truth. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 24 b, Whiche was thought to be done of a set porpose. 1600Holland Livy x. xxvi. 371 A thousand horsemen of Capua, chosen out of purpose for that warre. 1611Bible Ruth ii. 16 Let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her. 1741Monro Anat. (ed. 3) Pref. 5, I..of Purpose omitted many. 1893Times 22 Apr. (Leader), The whole of the arrangements..have been wrapped up, evidently of set purpose, in a cloud of ambiguities.
†b. With inf. or that: = on purpose, 11 b. Obs.
1535Coverdale 1 Sam. xviii. (heading), Saul geueth him his doughter of purpose, that the Philistynes mighte destroye him. 1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xxiv. (Arb.) 301 In gaming with a Prince it is decent to let him sometimes win of purpose, to keepe him pleasant. 1670Baxter Cure Ch.-Div. 167 The Scripture is written in such words as men use, of purpose that they may understand it.
11. on purpose.
a. (Also † on set purpose.) By design, as opposed to chance or accident; purposely, designedly, intentionally.
1590Shakes. Com. Err. iv. iii. 92 Belike his wife..On purpose shut the doores against his way. 1690W. Walker Idiomat. Anglo-Lat. Pref. 4 While one is looked for on set purpose many more will be gained..by-the-by. 1833H. Martineau Illustr. Pol. Econ., Cinnamon & Pearls i. 13 They had come out early on purpose. 1888Rider Haggard Col. Quaritch xxx, ‘He has been accidentally shot.’ ‘Who by?’ ‘Mrs. Quest.’ ‘Then she did it on purpose.’
b. With inf. or that: With the express purpose mentioned; in order to do something; with the particular design or aim that. Also with for, † to: Expressly for. So † upon purpose.
1599Shakes. Much Ado ii. iii. 41 How still the euening is, As husht on purpose to grace harmonie. 1635R. Bolton Comf. Affl. Consc. v. 133 Upon purpose, that he may more solemly vow, and resolve. 1644Milton Areop. (Arb.) 35 Treasur'd up on purpose to a life beyond life. 1702Addison Dial. Medals Wks. 1736 III. 161 When there is a society pensioned and set apart on purpose for the designing of them. a1713T. Ellwood Autobiog. (1714) 166 [He] had thrust himself among our Friends,..on purpose to be sent to Prison with them. 1877Spurgeon Serm. XXIII. 251, I may be placed where I am, on purpose that I may render essential help to the cause of God.
12. to (the) purpose.
a. With relevancy to the subject or point at issue; (to be) to the purpose, (to be) pertinent, apposite, to the point. (See also 5.)
1384Chaucer L.G.W. (Dido) 954 Of his auentourys..Tis nat to purpos for to speke of heyre. c1386― Clerk's T. 517 He no word wol to that purpos seye. 1535Coverdale Job xxxiv. 34 As for Iob he hath nether spoken to the purpose ner wysely. 1587Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1949/1 She..receiued him with manie apt words and thanks, as was most to purpose. 1719De Foe Crusoe (1840) II. iii. 58 I'll tell you a story to the purpose. 1868Key Philol. Ess. 261 The examples..quoted by Bopp, are at first sight more to the purpose.
b. to one's purpose: useful or serviceable for one's purpose or ends.
[c1386Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 598 Whan it cam hym to purpos for to reste.] 1630R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. A iij b, Tis to his purpose sometimes to deliver you the situation of the Countrey he discourses upon. 1668–9Pepys Diary 10 Mar., Looking over the books there,..[I] did find several things to my purpose. 1716Addison Freeholder No. 42 ⁋7 Caesar's Observation upon our Fore-fathers is very much to our present purpose.
c. to († unto) purpose, to the purpose, to good, great, some, any, etc. purpose: so as to secure the result or effect desired; with (a certain) effect; in an effective manner, effectively; to little or no purpose: with little or no effect or result; in vain. Also as adj. phr. predicatively.
c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 46 Unto purpos by cleer experyence, Beute wol shewe, thogh hornys wer away. 1553T. Wilson Rhet. (1580) 159 By an order we deuise, we..frame our doynges to good purpose. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 237 b, In hys opynion, a generall counsel shuld be to little porpos. 1579–80North Plutarch (1595) 127 It was not the great multitude of ships..that could stand them to purpose, against noble harts. 1594Hooker Eccl. Pol. Pref. iv. §6 Although it serve you to purpose with the ignorant and vulgar sort. 1611Shakes. Wint. T. i. ii. 106 Leo. Hermione..thou neuer spoak'st To better purpose. Her... Why lo-you now; I haue spoke to th' purpose twice. 1611Bible Transl. Pref. ⁋6 These..were worthily and to great purpose compiled together by Origen. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. v. xiv. 411 Yet perchance he may get some almes of learning,..but nothing to purpose. 1677Marvell Season. Argum., etc., Wks. 1776 II. 562 He feathered his nest to some purpose. 1680Burnet Rochester (1692) 132, I wrote a letter to the best purpose I could. 1718Free-thinker No. 59. 25 His Letter may..be made Publick to Good Purpose. 1823Scott Peveril iii, I prithee be plain, man,..or fetch some one who can speak to purpose. 1833H. Martineau Illustr. Pol. Econ., T. Tyne vii. 129, I used to insist on this..but..to no purpose. 1886Ruskin Præterita II. vii. 230 Another young draughtsman in Florence, who lessoned me to purpose.
†d. to purpose that: in order that; to the end that. Obs. rare—1.
1582N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. i. vii. 17 This was done, to purpose, that uppon Sunday, they would heare Masse on lande,..and receiue the Sacrament.
†e. to bring, come, fall to purpose: to bring or reduce to effect. to come to one purpose, to have the same effect, to come to the same thing.
1375Barbour Bruce iii. 263 To stand agayne thar fayis mycht,..And ay think to cum to purpos. c1491Chast. Goddes Chyld. 2, I wyll shewe you..remedies with some other maters, that lightly wyll falle to purpose. 1551R. Robinson tr. More's Utop. ii. vi. (1895) 205 It maketh nothing to thys matter, whether yow saye that sickenes is a griefe, or that in sickenes is griefe; for all cummeth to one purpose. 1563Shute Archit. C iv b, I haue begonne this order or rule, first with the Pedestale, (..Vitruuius..beginneth first with the pillor, neuertheles they come to one purpose in the parfection).
13. from the purpose: see 5. out of, unto, upon purpose: see 10 a, 12 c, 11 b.
III. 14. attrib. and Comb. Simple attrib. = adj., ‘done, made, etc., with a purpose or object’, as purpose-episode, purpose-journey, purpose-work; obj. genitive, as purpose-breaker, purpose-changer; instrumental, as purpose-built, purpose-designed, purpose-directed, purpose-made adjs; † purpose messenger, a messenger sent on purpose or express; purpose-novel, a novel written with a specific purpose, e.g. to defend or attack some doctrine, custom, or the like.
1387–8T. Usk Test. Love i. iii. (Skeat) l. 124 Wo is me that so many let-games, and *purpose-brekers ben maked wayters.
1959Times 9 June 11/6 Local authorities have indeed made remarkable progress in..adapted houses and small *purpose-built homes. 1962Economist 17 Mar. 980/2 New [bowling alley] centres will mostly be what has come to be known as ‘purpose-built’. 1972Computers & Humanities VII. 11 The need for a ‘purpose built’ command language is described in..‘A Command Language for Text Processing’. 1977Modern Railways Dec. 473/2 Rail movement of propylene in two weekly trainloads of purpose-built bogie tanks.
1595Shakes. John ii. i. 567 With that same *purpose-changer, that slye diuel,..Commoditie.
1961Economist 24 June 1347/2 Special trays adapted for fitting on to the arm of the ‘*purpose-designed’ Bingo chair. 1971J. Howlett in B. de Ferranti Living with Computer ii. 10 Purpose-designed experiment. 1975Language for Life (Dept. Educ. & Sci.) xiii. 208 It would be wrong to assume that nothing can be done unless the spaces are purpose-designed.
1899G. Tyrrell in Month May 497 Not in obedience to any *purpose-directed law.
1900Stoddard Evol. Eng. Novel 188 It is not..the *purpose-episodes in the novels of Dickens that are the strongest pages.
1860Luck Ladysmede (1862) I. 10 It was the abbot of Rivelsby who made a *purpose journey to Westminster.
1930Times Educ. Suppl. 11 Jan. 11/4 In some places there are ‘*purpose-made’ bricks. 1938Archit. Rev. LXXXIV. 208 (caption) Ketton stone has been used for the stone dressings, the facing bricks being eleven inches wide and purpose-made. 1974Country Life 21 Mar. 686/1 Wearable outfits, purpose-made for women who..like inconspicuous clothes.
1702E. Lluyd Let. in E. Owen Catal. MSS. relating to Wales 506, I have been obliged to send *purpose messengers 60 or 70 miles for votes. 1809Malkin Gil Blas ix. ii. (Rtldg.) 313 As Don Alphonso's patent was made out, I sent it by a purpose messenger.
1893F. M. Crawford in Forum (N.Y.) XIV. 594 The *purpose-novel is an odious attempt to lecture people who hate lectures, to preach at people who prefer their own Church.
1900Stoddard Evol. Eng. Novel 177 The direction of the *purpose-work of the hero.
▪ II. purpose, v.|ˈpɜːpəs|
Forms: 4– purpose; also 4–5 purpos, 5 purpoos, perpos(e, 5–6 pourpose, 6 porpose; pa. tense 5 purpast, 6 -pest.
[a. OF. porposer, purposer, also later pourposer, parallel forms of proposer (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.) to propose, with por-, pur-, pour- for L. prō̆-. purpose is thus a doublet of propose.]
I. To put forth, propose, present.
†1.
a. trans. To put forward for consideration, discussion, or treatment; to set forth, present to the mind of another; = propose v. 2. Obs.
[1292Britton ii. xvii. §1 Issi qe les excepciouns al bref abatre soint purposez avaunt la excepcioun a la persone le pleyntif.] 1382Wyclif Deut. xxx. 15 Bihold that to day I have purposid in thi siȝt lijf and good, and aȝenward deth and yuel. Ibid., Judg. xiv. 13 Purpos the problemes that we heren. 1413Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) i. viii. To maken his compleynt, and purpoos his askynge. 1531Elyot Gov. iii. xxix, Merely purposynge to them some feigned question. 1633Ford Broken H. i. iii, Mortality Creeps on the dung of earth, and cannot reach The riddles which are purposed by the gods.
†b. absol. or intr. To put forth remarks, questions, etc.; to discourse, converse, talk. Also with it. Cf. propose v. 5. Obs.
1590Spenser F.Q. ii. xii. 16 Whom overtaking, she in merry sort Them gan to bord, and purpose diversly. 1598Marston Satyres i. 138 He that can purpose it in dainty rimes Can set his face, and with his eye can speake.
†2. To put forward for acceptance; to offer, proffer, present; = propose v. 3 a, c. Obs. rare.
1386Rolls of Parlt. III. 225/1 (Anc. Pet. 997) Nichol Brembre wyth his upberers, purposed hym the yere next after Johan Northamptone Mair of the same Citee. 1563J. Man Musculus' Commonpl. 287 This universall communion of the heavenly grace, whiche is porposed unto all [mortalibus omnibus proposita].
II. To set before oneself for accomplishment.
3. a. trans. To place before oneself as a thing to be done or attained; to form a purpose of doing (something); to design or resolve upon the performance of. Const. chiefly inf. (formerly with for to); also that and clause, vbl. n., and ordinary n. Cf. propose v. 2 c, 4 b.
1382Wyclif Dan. i. 8 Forsothe Danyel purposide in his herte, that he were not defoulid of the borde of the kyng. 1390Gower Conf. Prol. I. 5 Thus I..Purpose forto wryte a bok. c1391Chaucer Astrol. Prol. 1, I purpose to teche the a certein nombre of conclusiouns. c1400Destr. Troy 12296 Pirrus, full prest, Þat purpost hom skathe. c1470Henry Wallace ix. 39 Off Kyrkcubre he purpost his passage; Semen he feyt. 1504C'tess Richmond tr. De Imitatione iv. vii. 269 So often pourposynge many good thynges. 1508Dunbar Flyting 77 Thow purpest for to vndo our Lordis cheif In Paislay, with ane poysone. 1596Spenser State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 618/1 It is a capitall crime to devise or purpose the death of the King. 1623Gouge Serm. Extent God's Provid. §10 A man may with himselfe plot and purpose this and that. 1758Johnson Idler No. 12 ⁋13 My friend purposes to open an office. 1850Lynch Theoph. Trin. xi. 211 His mother purposed that he should be a preacher, and his own heart purposed it too. 1863F. A. Kemble Resid. Georgia 16, I purpose..keeping a sort of journal. 1873in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) II. 156 The Artists whom it is purposed to employ.
†b. refl. To determine, make up one's mind, resolve. Const. inf. Also intr., to determine upon.
c1400Three Kings Cologne x. 38 Than þei ordeyned and purposed hem anoon with grete and riche ȝiftes..to go seke and worschipp þe lord. c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) xix. 88 When any of þam purposez him to sla him self. c1425Cast. Persev. 132 in Macro Plays 81 Þese parcellis in propyrtes we purpose us to playe þis day seuenenyt. 1507Communyc. (W. de W.) A iij, Thou purposed the daye by daye To set my people in synnynge. 1574tr. Marlorat's Apocalips xiii. 8 Euen from the beginning God purposed vppon thys sacrifice.
c. pass.. To have as one's purpose; to be resolved or determined. (Cf. purposed ppl. a. 2.)
c1400Destr. Troy 1868, I am not purpast plainly his prayer to here. 1598Hakluyt Voy. I. 70 The Emperour was purposed to send his ambassadors with vs. 1639Fuller Holy War ii. iii. (1647) 46 Peter Bishop of Aragnia in Italy was purposed here to lead his life. 1828Scott F.M. Perth x, I am purposed instantly to return. 1869Freeman Norm. Conq. III. xiii. §i. 263 The whole nation was..fully purposed that the next brood of æthelings..should be..Englishmen.
†4. intr., refl., and pass. ellipt. for to purpose or be purposed to go: To be bound for a place. Obs.
1467Marg. Paston in P. Lett. II. 309, I shall purpose me thederward. 1473Sir J. Paston ibid. III. 88 The Erle of Oxenford..is purposyd into Skotlond. 1581Savile Tacitus, Ann. iv. xxxiii. (1604) 179 For Civilis also purposed thitherward. 1606Shakes. Ant. & Cl. iii. i. 35 He purposeth to Athens. 1632W. Lithgow Trav. iii. 92, I could get passage.., being purposed for Constantinople.
†5. absol. or intr. To have a purpose, plan, or design; esp. in the proverbial phrase Man purposes (now proposes), God disposes: see dispose v. 7. (Cf. also propose v. 4 c, propone v. 5.) Also, To mean (well or ill) to any one. Obs.
c1450[see dispose v. 7]. 1530Palsgr. 670/2 Man purposeth and God disposeth, homme propose et Dieu dispose. 1612T. James Corrupt. Scripture iii. 38 But homo proponit, Deus disponit: the Pope purposed, and God so disposed it. c1622Fletcher Prophetess iv. i, Nor did he e'er purpose To me but nobly. c1634[see dispose v. 7]. a1656Bp. Hall Breathings Devout Soul (1851) 164 Lord, it is from thee, that I purposed well.
6. trans. To design or intend for some purpose. Only in pass.: To be intended. Now rare.
1387–8T. Usk Test. Love iii. iv. (Skeat) l. 121 Hem that tofore werne purposed to be saintes. 1553R. Ascham in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 14 My choise of quietnes is not purposed to lye in idleness. a1568― Scholem. (title-p.), Specially purposed for the priuate brynging vp of youth in Ientlemen and Noble mens houses. 1581Savile Tacitus, Agricola (1622) 200 [Domitian] sending a successor caused withall a bruit to be spred, that the prouince of Syria..was purposed vnto him. 1676Wood Jrnl. in Acc. Sev. Late Voy. i. (1694) 152 Merchandize..such as was Reasonably purposed to Vend on the Coast of Tartaria. 1924W. J. Locke Coming of Amos v. 53 What was the use of a stick purposed to beat neither beast nor man?
†7. To imagine to oneself, fancy, suppose: cf. propose v. 2 d. Obs. rare—1.
1494Fabyan Chron. vi. clxxxvi, Whan the Kynge had vnfolde the letter, and radde a parte therof, he smyled; wherof the lordes beynge ware, purposed the Kyng to haue receyued some iewellys or ioyous nouellys out of Englande.
¶8. trans. To place before, prefer.
(App. a literalism of translation.)
1502Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) ii. x. K iij, By the vertue of prudence we purpose [Fr. proposons] the delytes spyrytuall vnto the temporalles and carnalles.
▪ III. purpose
obs. form of porpoise n. |