n. [ OF. purpos, pourpos, propos, L. propositum. See Propound. ] 1. That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure, or exertion; view; aim; design; intention; plan. [ 1913 Webster ]

He will his firste purpos modify. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

As my eternal purpose hath decreed. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The flighty purpose never is o'ertook
Unless the deed go with it. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Proposal to another; discourse. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Instance; example. [ Obs. ] L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

In purpose,
Of purpose,
On purpose, with previous design; with the mind directed to that object; intentionally. On purpose is the form now generally used. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- design; end; intention; aim. See Design. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Purposed p. pr. & vb. n. Purposing. ] [ OF. purposer, proposer. See Propose. ] 1. To set forth; to bring forward. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To propose, as an aim, to one's self; to determine upon, as some end or object to be accomplished; to intend; to design; to resolve; -- often followed by an infinitive or dependent clause. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Did nothing purpose against the state. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

I purpose to write the history of England from the accession of King James the Second down to a time which is within the memory of men still living. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To have a purpose or intention; to discourse. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a purposed manner; according to purpose or design; purposely. [ 1913 Webster ]

A poem composed purposedly of the Trojan war. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Important; material. “Purposeful accounts.” Tylor. -- Pur"pose*ful*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

a. Having no purpose or result; objectless. Bp. Hall. -- Pur"pose*less*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

adv. With purpose or design; intentionally; with predetermination; designedly. [ 1913 Webster ]

In composing this discourse, I purposely declined all offensive and displeasing truths. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

So much they scorn the crowd, that if the throng
By chance go right, they purposely go wrong. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who brings forward or proposes anything; a proposer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who forms a purpose; one who intends. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having or indicating purpose or design. “Purposive characters.” Bastian. [ 1913 Webster ]

Purposive modification of structure in a bone. Owen. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is impossible that the frog should perform actions morepurposive than these. Huxley. [ 1913 Webster ]